AceStudio :: Blog

S(uperheroes) A(nonymous)

2010-07-11T15:14:00.000-07:00

So, lets be honest... have you ever wanted to dress up like a superhero and just do good stuff?

My knee jerk reaction to this story was that it was really easy to make fun of anyone who actually dressed up like a 'superhero' and went out in public. But then I realized that people were going out and doing things, just good things, that most people fail to do on a daily basis. They are ordinary people who just want to help make their world a better place. Handing out water, raising money for the homeless, helping the little old lady across the street. All the little things that you expected Superman to do on his down time, not because he could fly, but because it was the right thing to do.

Check out this article, it explains a bit of what they do. Seems very "Christian" like to me, minus the crazy costumes. These are people who were tired of talking about doing something, tired of talking about how bad it is, and actually got up and did something, and having a little fun while they're at it.

So next time you see someone in the park who looks like they could use a break, or a little old lady who just can't make it across the road, go ahead, be a superhero. You'll feel pretty good about it, and you don't even have to wear spandex to do it!

Welcome to SUMMERville

2010-06-18T16:53:00.000-07:00

It's June.

and its really hot out. Even the nights are warm. The rain rolls in and cools off for a while but as soon as the sun comes out the temp jumps up. (why do they say "the sun comes out"? did the sun ever "go in"?) The joys of not having an A/C in the car and a top that currently doesn't go down are certainly making this a less than enjoyable time.

On top of that tomorrow is a golf tournament, eighteen perfectly mowed but ill shaded patches of grass and a hole in the ground. At least there are golf carts!

in all honesty the heat doesn't bother me too much, but it makes it a necessity to stay cool when you get the chance and enjoy the little things (Like HVAC!).

so what about you, do you cope with the cold or the heat better?

Today I found out why I drive a convertible

2010-05-16T18:26:00.000-07:00

and the reason is this:

I don't think a wheel chair would fit in the trunk of a coupe.

makes total sense right?

I took a trip after church to Columbia for a birthday lunch. Got finished eating and started to make my way home. Getting road tired I decided to stop and grab something to drink.

Getting off I realized that it was not the exit I thought it was, and for a moment I contemplated hoping back on the highway to go up to the next one (which was the one I was intending to get off) but I decided this gas station was as good as any other.

Parked, went in passed the guy in a wheelchair selling pictures of Jesus (that he had drawn), the kind that you could tell it was simply because he was not one to beg, he wanted to give something and not just take.

Walked in and just kept wondering what (if anything) I was supposed to do, prayed about it, and as I walked out I still didn't know.

I almost walked by... I did walk by. But in a surprise to myself I turned around.

Long story short I grab the guy lunch and then when I asked if I could pray with him about anything he said he actually had prayed that he could find a ride to church. I'm not going to lie at first I thought "Well, that stinks, I got to be heading home" then I realized I was an hour ahead of schedule.

So I took a wrong exit which turned out to be a right turn, and maybe made a difference in some guys life.

funny is even after I told him I'd give him a ride he offered to pay me (with the money that a lady 'bought' one of his pictures with) And I realized that that man, in that situation wasn't asking for hand outs, he would just asking for a hand, he was in a rough spot but he had every bit of his dignity in tact.

idk, maybe God organized this (ok, he totally organized this) I'm just impressed that I was listening enough to actually hear him when he told me to move.

Where I am, where I'm going

2010-04-23T20:28:00.000-07:00

Did some looking back at old photos tonight. Its strange to think how drastically my life has changed. People I once saw every day I haven't heard from in months, or years. I think the fact that I'm 21 finally settled in, and while I don't feel 'old' I do feel like I should be sure to make the most of this time, before I am old.

Looking at pictures of the last few years I couldn't help but think of what Will Hoge had to say:
"Don't want to look back on a photograph and say that these were the days."

I don't feel old, I just feel motivated to LIVE.

Easter, $15 at the door please

2010-02-19T19:59:00.000-08:00

So I'm not sure how I feel about the idea of charging to see an Easter Play...

I just have this weird feeling like, it's supposed to be shared, telling the story to people who need to see it in a certain light. I did a lot of plays in High School and we charged for every one... but none of them had anything important to say, like "Free Life, come and get it."

I understand that plays cost money to put on, but feeding five thousand men costs money too... just saying

Tonight I realize that I am blessed to have grown up in a place where no matter what the cost, it's worth it for ONE person, if only one. Do we have the best plays? I will tell you upfront that the answer is no. But we are feeding a lot of people with what few loaves of bread we do have and a couple of fish...

I'm in no way downing any one who charges anything, I am in no place to judge any one, it's just my personal feelings... nothing more, nothing less.

Snow Panorama!

2010-02-13T07:59:00.000-08:00

just a quick wrap around panorama of my yard.

My yard has never looked quite like this, since last time it snowed it wasn't this much

and last time it snowed this much this yard was nothing but trees.

Because enough people take pictures during the day

2010-01-30T10:53:00.000-08:00

Some images from down town Charleston

Surgery

2010-01-28T20:59:00.000-08:00

Well, tomorrow I get to go under for my first ever surgery. why? well I shot myself in the finger, accidents happen, you can be sure i'll never make another mistake with a firearm again.

i have no doubt that the vast majority of my time at the hospital will be waisted sitting around doing nothing (or maybe filling out more paper work. you'd be amazed how much paper work needed to be done while I was sitting in a wheelchair bleeding of a gun shot wound in the waiting room of the ER...)

any way, this is a week of firsts, my first gun, my first gun shot wound (and last) my first surgery (and hopefully last).

I've said it before, I'll say it again. I HATE hospitals.

"Church for Ghosts"

2010-01-19T18:34:00.000-08:00

a few more shots from the "Church for Ghosts" series.

Model:

Grace Todd

Chuck Hendrix

What I want and what really is...

2010-01-04T19:21:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I blogged and this one is a breather...

What I want to have happen and what seems to be happening are at odds with each other. In more than one way, I want to be moving forward, making strides toward the places I want to be, I don't even want to be at my destination yet, I just want to be heading that way...

The places I want to be going seem to either never get closer or move even further away, and while I haven't started moving backwards it feels like I haven't started moving forwards either. To be quite honest it drives me a little bit crazy. The question of weather or not the place I have been looking at going is even the place I'm supposed to go has been beating my faith to a pulp lately... It get's hard to hold on to Faith when half your brain starts working so hard against it.

I suppose it's a part of any journey, there are always the stretches that seem like they take far more time then they should. Moments that feel like they will never end, like there really isn't a destination at all, like the only thing is that stretch of road that goes on forever and the scene never changes.

I certainly hope the scene changes soon, I trust it will, but that doesn't make it happen any less annoyingly slow...

New web Browsers are FUN

2009-12-02T20:19:00.000-08:00

Made the jump from good old Fire Fox to Google Chrome and I have to say... rest in peace Fire Fox.

so far this new browser is a heck of a lot faster than Fire Fox, the people at Google are very very smart. but seriously though, how the heck do they make any money? after all this thing is open source!

UNexpected?

2009-11-15T11:03:00.000-08:00

God should never have to show up UNexpected. we should always expect him to show up... in acts when they healed the crippled man... they totally expected God to show up...

"Seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened"

"To Write Love on Her Arms"

2009-11-14T20:39:00.000-08:00

some of the first shot's I've done with a model...
Model: Christine Glendening
and check out "To Write Love on Her Arms"

Photography

2009-11-14T08:02:00.000-08:00

a couple of images from a series titled "Church for Ghosts"

Plank.

2009-11-04T18:41:00.000-08:00

"I am the plank in my eye"

While wondering why it was that I could see that I had a "plank in my eye" and yet I could not remove it I stumbled upon this simple idea... "I am the plank in my eye". Sometimes the reason we can not remove the plank is because we ARE the plank...

Some times we feel that something is in need of changing but we can't really put our finger on it, or we can put our finger on a couple of things and yet we can't ever make them change. the truth is that they are not the things that are in the way.

I am the plank. I am skewing my own vision, I'm seeing the world THROUGH me. I am my own "rose colored glasses" and I am horribly cracked and scratched. (Wear a scratched pair of sunglasses long enough and you learn not to see the imperfections.) I am the reason that when I do things they do not happen, when I pursue things I do not get them, when I knock the door seems to stay shut.

Now the problem lies in how exactly one goes about removing them self from their own eye?

It seems painfully obvious that "alone" is not the answer to this question. and yet more often than not I am content to attempt just that, as if I could simply jump out of my own way...

"Love over all"

2009-11-03T20:45:00.000-08:00

in color:

2009-10-28T20:03:00.000-07:00

some of my first attempts at ink drawings... I need to clean my lens...

"Love over all"

random character sketch. this is both his first time in ink and color.

this was my final project from my design class at Trident.
"one to many mushrooms" or "Mario meets the mushrooms"

some things that melt the plastic.

2009-10-26T19:49:00.000-07:00

some times I wonder what it is people are more afraid of. Is it that we fear the heat of the flame or is it that we fear losing that which we have become so accustom to hiding behind?

God opens our eyes to things that must be changed, things we must put away, childish things, things of the world. Things that we have learned to live with, or chosen to live with. Many times we find that they are tucked neatly away, hidden behind a mask.

When we first put on our mask it was unnatural and uncomfortable, but as we continue to wear it it becomes natural. We put it on every morning before we get up, and eventually we stop taking it off when we lay down. There comes a point when the mask starts fooling the wearer more and the viewer less. The mask becomes our truth and underneath our truth the secrets still remain. the cleaner we keep the mask the more we want to hide the secrets, the struggles, the imperfections. The mask becomes our truth, and sometimes we forget what it was we used to be, we forget what we would look like with out a mask, we fear that with out the mask we are our secrets.

So the question remains... is it the pain that comes from burning off the plastic that we are scared of, or the losing of the mask and all the secrets underneath?

The truth we must realize is that if the Mask is put to the flame all the stuff hidden underneath it will also be burned away, even the person so that all our imperfections can be burned away and we can see in the mirror a reflection of the one who created us, more than what we were when we began.

I've been putting off starting a project titled "the Masquerade" and I have no doubt that a part of that is because some were inside I know that it will call to question what masks I still hide behind... and I have to ask myself this same question, what is it that I am afraid of?

Biking

2009-09-19T12:49:00.000-07:00

I have only recently gotten into the bicycle thing. My bike is cheap, my helmet is good, my ipod has a cracked screen, and my bottle cage is duct taped to my bike. It's not a professional set up. as a matter of fact I don't know that I would call it an amateur set up.

Despite this I am quite fond of my bike. Once plastered with random "mongoose" stickers which I removed. and a unruly at best gear mechanism (we'll just call it that for now, I know that's not what it's called bike people) I got the bike on a whim for its price (Wally world special) and the fact that it had a full suspension that I knew would be fun for a rather large, steep, and rocky hill at Kids Camp.

Since I got it I already want a decent road bike, something that can seriously move. But until I save the money to get one it'll be me and the silver wonder.

I had a light bulb moment today. Riding the bike to church for the Bike Run (haha, irony) I can make it to church in around 15-20 min depending on how casual I'm feeling (usually more casual on the way home)

Pulling into the church I can feel my legs, they are telling me "When you get of this bike we are gonna have a good long talk" but they keep trucking just the same. My heart likewise is telling me that as soon as we are done it's got a mind to jump out of my throat and punch me in the face... but on it pumps.

And then I get off...

You can't sit down after something like that, the body is shocked, it can be dangerous... and chances are you will not be able to stand for some time. so there I am, finishing off my water bottle, bent half over having that conversation with my legs. The thought "I had a perfectly good car at home I could have DROVE" did not hesitate to cross my mind.

But the fact is that I never once think that when I am ON the bike. No matter how much my legs burn, how hot the air in front of me is, I never think about the fact that I didn't have to ride. I just aim to get to the next space ahead of me, where ever that space leads.

Now for the spiritual moment:

The real pain comes when you get off and the body has time to remind you exactly how much it just worked. The muscles have been stretched and worked and changed. Standing there afterward you are no longer working the muscle, but it has not stopped telling you there is a change taking place. And whats more sitting down right off the bike could potentially harm that change.

Kinda like spiritual change some times.

We often go threw change, revival, revelation. Never thinking about how hard it is, how much work is being done. But once we "Get off the bike" we are hit with it all and so many times we sit strait down and don't let that change take a permanent hold on our lives. It's the hardest part of a serious work out, like a runner who takes that one last walk around the track after running for a mile. You don't WANT to, the feelings you are suddenly faced with all seem to point to the "Go sit your butt down" option.

So, how many times have you "Sat down" and later on when you tried to get back up you realized sitting down so fast was not a good idea?

I know I'm moving... I just don't know where.

2009-09-16T20:51:00.000-07:00

hmm. It's been a while since I blogged anything.

well the reason for that is simple enough, I haven't thought of anything interesting enough to blog... or just haven't been in the mood.

simple answer right?

Lately I've been going in a lot of different directions. My car being broke has put me off center for the past week or so. Some people could care less what they drive as long as they get from point a to point b. I am not one of those people. Not knowing how long this is going to take and constantly finding snags along the way are killing me.

Kinda like my spiritual life... strangely enough.

I know God is working in me. I have no idea what he is doing or planning, though I know what I would LIKE for him to be doing or planning. I am doing my very best to hold on for dear life in the hope that I end up where I'm supposed to be. It's hard to hold on and wait for something when you don't know where you are going, or what you have to do to get there.

At least with the car I know what the end looks like, while I'm still not sure what it will take to get there.

the "reverse" God Moment

2009-08-12T20:06:00.000-07:00

Every one loves "God Moments" the times you look back on and know that you know that God was doing some crazy stuff in you. The times when you just felt God moving. I have had plenty of "God Moments" in my life, when I thought I was gonna change my world and be on fire for the rest of my life and go go go...and then I'd fall flat on my face.

Well this week the Youth had "the Awakening" a crazy revival that was pumped full of God every night. It was one of those events you just KNOW is gonna rock you to the core.

Except it didn't.

Oh God showed up alright. Every service God did some amazing things in peoples lives, people were changed, lives were changed, and "God Moments" were experienced.

Except for me.

All week long I went into it hoping to find God, hoping to break into some incredible moment, some great heart felt worship. I wanted to have a "God Moment", but it never happened, not even tonight when God took the entire plan for the night, flipped it on its head, and hit it with a baseball bat.

It got me on my knees. I talked a lot, out loud, hoping God was listening. It forced me to be honest with myself. I didn't know what was going on or what I was supposed to do. I really did expect God to show up randomly and say "Ok, I'm here...God Moment" but it never happened.

I think He gave me a little perspective. OK, He gave me a lot of perspective. He proved that while I need Him, He does not need me. He gave me a place from which to restart my relationship with Him. I will need help. I will need a lot of help, from God and from the people He has put in my life.

God made a point NOT to show up to me this week. It hurt. I still don't know exactly where to go, what to do, or even how to understand what his plan in this is, but I do know that I don't ever want to have to be reminded that I'm slacking on my relationship with Him.

I know now how God feels when He calls out to me and I don't listen...

ER

2009-08-08T00:20:00.000-07:00

My family as a rule does not like the hospital. If some one doesn't make us go chances are we will not go. Take the least amount of fun you could ever have and them multiply it and then double that and make it last a couple of hours (day/weeks depending) and you have a hospital experience.

Some people just go to the hospital, weather they are indifferent about the situation, or are still annoyed that they have to go but would rather be safe. My family (especially the guys) would rather wait it out... I mean like you tell me an illness/issue and I'll show you a group of people who would seriously consider sitting in the recliner and saying: "Got to die some time"

we don't like hospitals.

after my first visit to the ER in a long time (last time I went to the ER was before I started school) I have reinforced the dislike of hospitals...two hours and a fluffy white bandage later and I'm leaving the ER wondering why I let myself talk myself into going in the first place... and then I remember how much my thumb had been hurting prior. I still say it would have been fine with out the fancy solution they made me soak it in for that two(ish) hours.

Happy 4th of July

2009-07-04T12:10:00.000-07:00

the 4th of July is probably the greatest holiday for the American people. sure, you don't get gifts, but you do get to hang out with loved ones and celebrate the greatest experiment the world has ever known.

Being a red blooded American I absolutely love the fourth of July. being a self proclaimed pyromaniac I also absolutely love shooting off fireworks.

I'm so thankful that every year we are able to celebrate the sacrifice that was made to make this country great. Sure, there are things that are messed up. Sure there are things I don't agree with. But for all the mistakes and trouble and problems this is still the "Land of the Free and the home of the Brave"

God Bless America!

Some times God's not talking...

2009-06-29T22:12:00.000-07:00

but usually I'm just not listening...

"the fire"

2009-06-25T15:42:00.000-07:00

A poem

2009-06-09T19:28:00.000-07:00

I stumbled on this while I was going through some old .doc files. It's a poem I wrote after my Grandmother passed away this winter. Turns out some of the saddest days of our lives can also me the most beautiful.

It snowed today in Brooklyn, a family pays their due

A friend for life lies peacefully, our hearts are cut in two

With sadness in our hearts, we let her pass away

And wonder to our self, why she couldn’t stay

We wipe our tears with laughter, from the days gone by

Of memories and stories, of her and you and I

And though our hearts are heavy, though tears will sting our eyes

We whisper now “I love you”, and say our last good byes

The winter morns her passing, and sends one final gift

And while the world is freezing, a snow’s begun to drift

Beauty despite sadness, in our memory will be

And despite our morning, remember a beautiful scene

It snowed today in Brooklyn, and it will be a while

So until I see you, I love you grandma...

Life: it's good

2009-06-07T21:37:00.000-07:00

ever have one of those moments when everything just clicked? Even if you were in the middle of crazy stress and things you sit down and realize how wonderful life is and just want to be lazy and enjoy it for a while. I feel like that.

I've got a crazy two weeks ahead of me, and have had some crazy days last week, and just events in general lately have been starting to take a toll on me, but right now I feel amazing. Even though I know I've been kinda stressed I feel great, relaxed (if a bit tired) and just ready for whatever comes next.

It's one of God's small gifts, the little moments that we get to sit back, relax, and realize how amazing life really is.

"I see trees of green, red roses too,
I see them bloom for me and you,
and I think to myself, what a wonderful world,
I see skies of blue, clouds of white,
bright blessed days, dark sacred nights,
and I think to myself, what a wonderful world."

I do believe this is part of what God had in mind when he said "life more abundantly"

Tired

2009-05-29T22:31:00.000-07:00

I'm tired of 'Church'.

I'm tired of people who go to 'Church'

I'm tired of playing for 'Church'

I'm tired of hanging out after 'Church'

I'm tired of going to 'Church'

I'm tired of having to walk through a door to get to 'Church'

I'm tired of spending so much time in 'Church' that I'm never out doing something for the lost

I'm tired of going through the same pointless conversations with myself because I'm to stubborn or lazy to do anything about my weakness', my sins, my failures.

I'm tired of willingly giving less than my best to some one who gave me everything.

I'm tired of double standards

I'm tired of cameras

I'm tired of dull worship

I'm tired of fake people

I'm tired of being fake

I'm tired of wishing life seemed real, but never stepping up to the plate to make it real

I'm tired of chasing after a life that is meaningless

I'm tired of be congratulated, admired, thanked, recommended, thought highly of, or complemented

I'm tired of life

Where is this life leading if not toward Christ? I'm tired of myself, and I realize it so often, but my nature is to be lazy and stubborn and I fail to make any steps in the right direction.

"This might hurt, its not safe, but I know that I've got to make a change
I don't care if I break, at least I'll be feeling something
Cause just OK is not enough, help me fight through the nothingness of life.

I don't want to go through the motions,
I don't want to go one more day
with out your all consuming passion inside of me,
I don't want to spend my whole life asking,
"what if I had given everything, instead of going through the motions?"

No regrets, not this time, I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let your love, make me whole, I think I'm finally feeling something
Cause just OK is not enough, help me fight through the nothingness of this life

I don't want to go through the motions,
I don't want to go one more day
with out your all consuming passion inside of me,
I don't want to spend my whole life asking,
"what if I had given everything, instead of going through the motions?"

_Matthew West: the motions

Its time for the Church to step up and step out, to start being real. Its time for ME to step up and step out. I'm tired of going through the motions.

If you read this I'm asking you: Call me out, don't be timid, don't be shy, I'm ready to be something more than what I am, and on my own I can't do that. I'm tired of a life that isn't 150% sold out to God, and I know I'm surrounded by people who feel the same way.

FWDed to the blog.

2009-05-20T21:09:00.000-07:00

I'm not a fan of email in general, unless i'm trying to buy stuff... so I'll post this here:

..........................

I'll bet this was a surprise to NBC.

NBC POLL
Do you believe that the word God should stay in American culture?

NBC this morning had a poll on this question.
They had the highest Number of responses that they have ever had for one of their polls, and the Percentage was the same as this:

86% to keep the words, IN God We Trust and God in the Pledge of Allegiance 14% against

That is a pretty 'commanding' public response.

I was asked to send this on if I agreed or delete if I didn't . Now it is your turn. It is said that 86% of Americans believe the word God should stay. Therefore, I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a mess about having 'In God We Trust' on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why is the world catering to this 14%? AMEN!If you agree, pass this on , if not, simply delete.

In God We Trust!

More from the Newsboys show

2009-05-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

WHOLE WISE FREE

2009-05-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

Here are some shots from the Whole Wise Free art show. I'll tell you what, my camera was freaking out trying to take pictures. I don't believe in flash. haha. but enjoy:

WHOLE WISE FREE

2009-05-15T14:03:00.000-07:00

New School

Old School

The unstoppable Duo: Rocky Horror and Jeff ET

NEWSBOYS

2009-05-10T14:54:00.000-07:00

these are some shots from the newsboys concert. plenty more to come (half the trouble is sorting out about six folders worth of images) enjoy for now and wish you had been there!

Mandatory Military Service

2009-05-06T22:40:00.000-07:00

volunteer > conscription

We defeated the worlds greatest military when we fought the revolutionary war with a volunteer army and a bunch of second hand weapons.

that’s all I'm saying.

Transit: Whole, Wise, Free

2009-04-30T10:24:00.000-07:00

the Transit Whole Wise Free art show is tonight! doors open at 6:30 and the show starts at 7!! come see some AMAZING work, including a top secret piece by Jason Smith that will be revealed tonight for the first time. also "the Pirate" Justin has his sweet transit piece to be revealed!

Show includes: Photography, Paint, Sketch, Sculpture.
With music by: Jeff ET and Rock Horror

and a sweet light show by yours truly!

Bread of Stone, Vota, and Newsboys

2009-04-23T20:50:00.000-07:00

I love great concerts, and this was a great concert. the stage rig was fantastic, the bands were awsome, the crowd was into it. It was a show that moved seamlessly from rock show to worship and back again, from pure intertainment to deep conversation with out so much as a hickup. It was an awsome show. I am officially a fan of Bread of Stone and Vota, two bands I had not really heard of before. Check them out, and soon to come, PICTURES! I have easily over 200 images from the night (being a stage hand has its advantages!!) stay tuned!

One of lifes little secrets revield:

2009-04-22T20:54:00.000-07:00

Whats the point of getting somewhere, if you have to change who you are to do it? And if you have to change who you are to make it, have your really made it at all?

The fact is a woman from California obviously thinks that there is no point in going all the way if you have to leave part of your self behind, namely : your beliefs.

The first runner up in the Miss America contest stood up and said "I think marrage should be between a man and a woman" she was Miss California, and she is an American Hero if ever there was one. I've never been a fan of the pagent thing, but this woman proved that you don't always have to do what will win. After all she made it all the way to second place, and she stood for what she believed and didn't give a "politicaly correct" answer.

You Go Girl!

the moral of this story: If you have to go against your moral standing to get where you're going, then your going in the wrong direction.

Easter

2009-04-12T11:52:00.000-07:00

"What are we gonna do for Easter?"

"We'll have a bunny!"

"What? What does a bunny have to do with Jesus!?"

"Don't worry, he'll lay eggs...and then we'll hide them in the yard and find them again!"

---

I don't rememeber who tells that joke but its funny when he does so laugh!

---

its Easter! its a beautiful day outside and it was an awsome service at church.

But whats the point of Easter?

the short story:

"2000 years ago God died on a cross to save the world and then he rose from the dead cause he's to awsome to be held down by death" -CHV (chuck hendrix version)

But whats the point? why did Jesus die on a cross? We can look around and see that we still have plenty of problems in the world. So why?

What if the point of Easter isn't the fact that the man who died to save the world defeated death? What if the point is that in doing so he gave us the tools to do the same? What if he died so we could go to the ends of the earth and defeat death?

What if Jesus died so we could live life in a real way? I'm so tired of "Church Edicat" that I could puke.

Jesus didn't die for "Church Edicat" he died for life and love and hope and joy. Jesus died so we could be like David and dance with all our might and not care what the people around us say. He died so we could be like the aposles and declare his name unto death. He died so we could be like Moses, unsure of ourselves and scared but made to be great in the name of God. He died so we could tame the lions in the den and heal the sick and move mountains and tear down walls and lift his name up and bring him to every one.

UNfail

2009-04-12T11:26:00.000-07:00

yay! after an eventfull few hours (with an easter production slap in the middle) I've got my car back!

short blog.

Major FAIL

2009-04-10T14:32:00.000-07:00

Stupid stupid radiator. theRooster has been parked until further notice because I need to replace the radiator in it. GRR! with any luck it will happen soon and I'll be back on the road by Monday. so gay.

The latest (buy maybe not greatest) project!

2009-03-27T17:34:00.000-07:00

This is a motorcycle that I got from a lady who wanted it "Out of my driveway!"
When she asked if we would take it I said "free motorcycle? HECK YES!"

The catch: It has been sitting in her driveway for two years! It doesn't run, and is dry as a bone. It does turn over though. Its in peices right now waiting to be fixed and turned into a sweet cafe' racer!

Peddlers Pocket

2009-03-27T17:26:00.000-07:00

http://joshbenserblog.com/pedalers-pocket/

This guy is an amazing friend of mine (for all of you who don't know him)
check out this sweet plan to make a difference in peoples lives with bikes!

"I want to ride my bicycle I want to ride my bike! I want to ride my bicycle I want to ride where I like!" lol.

my computer is a zombie

2009-03-26T06:31:00.000-07:00

It's been a decent amount of time since I blogged, the reason why? my computer died. Hard drive just up and toasted itself one day. Lucky for me!

Ok, so unlucky, but the first time it did similar things I went in to Best Buy and they said "Its a program issue, so its not under warrenty"

Needless to say I did not pay them. I went home and figured it out myself.

the next time I try doing the same thing, doesn't work. So I try reinstalling the OS...and then it really doesn't work. Bring it into Best Buy "Oh, yeah, its your hard drive." Just goes to show you you might not want to jump to conclusions at the "Geek Squad" desk.

Any way the computer is finally back up and running now...of course I have to start from scratch and reinstall all my programing and such, but at least I have it back.

Vinyl

2009-03-03T06:01:00.000-08:00

When was the last time you were excited about opening up a new record? shoot, when was the last time half of us OPENED a new record...(and I'm not talking about the digital file)

Well last night I was excited, why? because I just purchased the new Coldplay album, "Viva La Vida". By album I mean record, as it "record player". thats right, I got a Vinyl record. It's so much fun! I can't even play the thing (yet) but I'll tell you what, its about the coolest thing I own right now.

Now I just have to go find a record player to buy...hum...

ps: it came with the CD also, so I can listen to that...but I want to listen to the record! so cool.

Epson Stylus Photo r1900!

2009-02-26T08:48:00.000-08:00

This is an amazing printer. It came in the mail tuesday, and I printed with it yesterday. A kid in a candy store where every thing was free would not be as excited as I am right now! This is a semi-professional printer. which is to say, its to good to print documents. It's a 13 inch wide format printer that can print pages 13 by 44 inches! Thats amazing. And its sitting in my living room.

Its amazing!

and I got it on dicount!

Which is even more amazing!

Feb...spring...and the smell of burnt rubber.

2009-02-19T11:18:00.000-08:00

Ok, back to the good old crazy Chuck and his silly car blog posts!

It's February! Hooray! The drag strip will (With any luck) be sticking it to the financial crisis and opening up for those of us who bite the bullet and fill up our tanks multiple times a week because we are addicted to making our cars move quicker than the guy beside us.

Note: if you have a sports car...buy a motorcycle, you'll save gas that way.

Any way. I'm itching to make the trip out to Dorchester Dragway and test out my new set up...with any luck it isn't going to be the same very long.

For the rest of you who are laughing at all the silly car people...you guys have a good one too.

"Its not about how many miles you get...its about how much fun you have with in those miles"

WARNING:: Political Rant Mr. President, you are a liar.

2009-02-13T19:02:00.000-08:00

So today congress voted on a bill. This bill is the single largest spending bill passed by congress. This bill dwarfs the stimulus package that was passed under Bush, which the American people said no to.

This rant is about the bold face lie that has been handed to the American people. Barack Obama said that the government needed to be transparent, but this bill was finalised behind closed doors. Barack Obama said that all bills would be open to the public for 48 hours before being passed into law...the bill was not even completed until late last night, and it was voted on today.

The American People have been lied to and many of us welcomed this with open arms.

The bill was rushed because Nancy Pelosi needed to go to Italy to receive an award. Why is Nancy Pelosi even getting an award from somebody in ITALY!? Why is she getting an award from ANYBODY!?? Politicians shouldn't get awards! If they do a good job they get re-elected...besides, its their JOB to do a good job...that's why we vote for them in the first place.

Now, I'm just a simple guy who gets most of his info from the news and talk radio. So far I have heard nothing actually good about this bill. I love the bit about some ridicules amount of money going to help the salt weed mouse, or what ever. WHY ARE WE GIVING A MOUSE MONEY!? I don't care if it's endangered...the bill is supposed to stimulate the ECONOMY! The salt weed mouse will NEVER BUY ANYTHING...and as such can NEVER help the economy.

_Side note_
("Oh, but it's endangered and we need to take responsibility for killing it off"...I agree that we need to take care of the planet, but we need to let a dead horse, or mouse, lie. PEOPLE are dieing because of stuff we've done wrong...PEOPLE are more important than a freaking mouse. If I lose control of my car and hit a person and a mouse...who should I bring to the hospital?)
_End side note_

I'm not saying that its bad to try and help the American people out (after all, it's partially the governments fault we got into this mess) I'm sure that there must be some good in this bill. Sure, OK, pass it, but only after it's been read, amended, cut down to size, got all the junk pulled out of it, and made into an actual bill that could actually help instead of a dumping pot of random spending.

But no, what do we get? We get, "Oh, this is a good bill...trust me, you don't need to read it...its only like 1000 pages, there is no way we hid anything in it. Oh and about that whole "we'll let the American people read see it first" thing, forget we said that." And THAT is what I'm saying is WRONG! WRONG WRONG WRONG! BAD IDEA! You NEVER EVER EVER sign a contract involving money if you don't READ IT FIRST! because if you did there is a chance that you get RIPPED OFF!

Oh, but politicians never rip people off...right. Because we know when we are going to get ripped off...because that makes sense.

The Government has finally proven once and for all that it is broken. The People in charge right now can not operate the thing we call government correctly. I was riding to work today and I was actually scared for the future. What in the world are we doing? How did we let this happen?

God bless America...we're gonna need it.

CS4 and the Gallery is actually being used as a gallery!

2009-02-12T07:11:00.000-08:00

Well, yesterday was about the best day ever. I got Photoshop CS4 loaded onto my computer! Here are some of the fruits of the CS4 goodness. Obviously some of them have some major adjustments.

3 hours = 12 hours

2009-02-10T07:27:00.000-08:00

yeah, its been like a month. thats a long time. The issue here is the fact that I shoot RAW images and they are HUGE, and with out photoshop on this computer its hard to get the images reformated and uploaded.

Any way...on to the blog

Saturday Kurt, Catch, and myself, all arrive at the church garage at nine to lift my car up and swap out the gears. max 3 hours. We lose Catch at noon and we still haven't even gotten to the install portion. We are already way behind.

Long story short, we didn't get finished and on to the actuall test drive untill nine that night. We spent twelve hours under my car, with a short brake for lunch (which didn't come untill dinner time.) But it was all well worth it.

Back to school and spending money like a crazy person!

2009-01-12T09:39:00.000-08:00

Well, to be honest the two things don't go together...Yes, its that great time of year when all the students gas up their cars and go back to school. Its that time of year when the teachers give out the stupid materials sheets and you realize that you are going to have to buy a couple of hundrid dollars worth of crap...for some of us on a per class basis.

God bless financial aid. lol.

Any way here is the really big news, and whats more, the important stuff!

Today there was ordered a set of Ford Racing Performance Parts 3.73:1 rear end gears for a 93 mustang. (that would be my car) This is the first big item for my car. (not even really a big item...but what ever.) YAY!! Good by gas mileage, hello fun car!!

(I also purchased a Card reader so I can get the pics from my cameras onto my computer so expect some pics to be heading this way!!)

some ramblings.

2008-12-28T19:45:00.000-08:00

So I've come to the conclusion that there are really three things that a person should not try and comprehend. One is the glory of God. Another is the vast and unimaginable hugeness of space and creation. Another, which I found out today, is what a person might or might not be thinking befor death.

My Grandmother is presently in the hospital. She is on a breathing machine, and is basicly in that state of "There is no pain". Which is to say, "The state just befor death or becoming a vegitable"

Sitting in her room I came to these three conclutions.

The suddeness of this whole thing has done a great deal for showing me just how fragile life is. Which is suprisingly fragile if you ever do start to think about the vastness of creation. As a matter of fact, you might take a crack at thinking about the hugeness of creation, its quite an amazing creation...after all, have you ever looked up on a clear night?

Scrooge and a Dead Guy.

2008-12-14T14:02:00.000-08:00

Its sunday, and this is the last night for "the Gospel according to Scrooge" my churches christmas play. I play Jacob Marley, which is sweet cause he's cool...although it takes like and hour to do my make up and costume stuff. I'll try and get some of the pictures if I can (hard to take pictures of myself on stage).

Man, four shows in a row can take a toll on a guy...I'm tired.

Five to Twelve and two days to an Art show.

2008-12-01T08:57:00.000-08:00

so its five to twelve and I've got the blog bug really bad today...sad part is I don't have anything to blog about. Hopefully I'll have a picture or two scanned into the computer and posted up tonight or tomorrow. And I've got my final project due next week, so with any luck I'll get them posted asap.

PS: Any one interested in art: There is an Exit Portfolio Art Show this wed. (Dec 3) at TTC. Starts at 5:30 and ends at 7 (pm). Its in the 410 building (student lounge/admissions building) Come check out some top notch stuff from the Visual Communications Department.

We got Greed

2008-11-19T13:15:00.000-08:00

Heres an eye opener...
it is estemated that world hunger could be solved...cost: 30 billion dollars a year
it is estemated that the world water crises could be solved...cost: 4 billion dollars a year

In 2007 the US had 301,139,947 people the number is now more BUT we'll go with that.
it is estemated that the average american will spend 800 dollars on Christmas this year (down about 100 dollars from last year)

that means we will spend about 240,911,957,600...it would take 15% of that a year to SOLVE WORLD HUNGER...

Do you know what 15% of 800 dollars is? $120

Yeah, tell me how alot of the 300 million americans are kids and how alot of them are not spending 800 dollars on christmas bla bla bla. Ok, cut the number in half, $120,455,978,800 spent, 28% solves the problem. which is $224 per person for 150 million people.

So what am I saying? that every one needs to go out with their $120 or $224 and solve world hunger? well, yeah...if some one could actually mobilize the effort then thats exactly what needs to happen...but I know its not going to. (minus an act of God, which I am so up for if He is)

What I'm saying is that maybe we need to look at what we spend our money on. Maybe its time we stop worrying about how much we have and how much we can get and start looking at how much we can do with what we have already.

Maybe, just maybe, every now and again we can stop getting paid to work and turn around and Pay to work. I know, its a novel idea, its like sliced bread, or grace and forgiveness...take your pick.

Maybe its time we did the right thing and didn't ask for anything in return.

We got enough Greed to go around...anybody got Jesus?

::EDIT:: Thank you Dan for correcting my math (really big numbers clogged me up that day) I make no claim to be a math wiz, so I've made the changes. .15 is now 15, so on and so forth.
(I wonder what it is when you spread it amongs the all of the people in the top 10% of the worlds economy? not just the US?)

the new magic number:: $120 dollars a year.
To quote that stupid insurance commercial "wow...thats a new pair of shoes"...

We got Gas...

2008-11-19T12:19:00.000-08:00

So I'm heading out the door and realize that I don't have any gas in the car, (about a gallon if I'm lucky) and I get twenty bucks to put in...figured I'll get enough to last the rest of the week right? Well I fill up and basicly get a full tank with twenty bucks...$20! thats about twenty bucks less than it cost to fill up about a month ago. Needless to say I am very happy about this downward spike in gas prices. It came to late to actually help anybody of course, but I think if it stays down...or gets lower, (gasp!) then we might actually see a turn around!

Lets do the time line shall we?

-0-0-0-

-Gas went up...Sky high would be an understatement.

-People still had to go to work, so they had to buy gas. (or take the bus...which had to buy gas)

-People had less money to buy STUFF with.

-The companies that make the STUFF made less money...and had to start laying people off.

-People got layed off...which means they are making even less money...and buying even less STUFF.

-The companies that make the STUFF are forced to cry to the government because nobody can afford to buy their STUFF and they are not making any money and they don't want to fire any more people and they need a bail out.

-Congress does what it does best...absolutly nothing usefull at all. (Any one hear how much of that 700 BILLION dollars actually went to bail out the economy? and how much are they trying to "Save just in case"?)

-Now all the sudden some guys up top of the real world powers (the oil industry) get something done and the oil prices start to drop... (either that or we took over all the oil fields in the middle east by force, either way is fine by me)

-I can drive my car again!

-Gas drops so low that I can drive my car AND buy STUFF when I get there!

-the companies start making money again!

-the companies can afford to HIRE people again!

-about this time the world ends.

-0-0-0-

See? when you let a simple person like me figure it out...it becomes simple...don't you think that timeline is simple? I know you do.

Of course this just means that the greed that has implanted itself at the top of economic development and big business will have to stay in the closet for a few months...ok, so alot of few months, like a couple of years, what ever. Sadly, I doubt this will happen because greed has a hard enough time not showing up for thrity seconds in big business, much less a few years...

I'm sure the president of Sunoco is like "I'm Lossing so much money! Look, I'm making what we made five years ago when people could have their cars and drive them too!"

God forbid any one look back to when gas was a dollar a gallon and realize the people who owned the oil were still WAAAY richer than the people who bought the oil.

God forbid any of the WAAAY richer people say "Wow...I can live off 100,000 dollars a year instead of like 1.6 million (which I'm sure is an understatement)

Its funny, because when people have so much money they become so scared to live off of less...but they don't even know what to do with all the money they have in the first place!!

The Rooster:: minor invasive surgery.

2008-11-09T16:56:00.000-08:00

AH!!! My baby has a leak! (exaust leak that is) so now I get to take the driver side header off and do some stud threading and fancy wrench work to get it fixed. GRR. stupid BBK manifold...why must you do this to me!?

For you who don't know what the heck i'm talking about...don't even worry about it. lol, PEACE!

(short blog to make up for the really long blog earlier.)

Warning :: Political Rant

2008-11-09T14:59:00.000-08:00

America has selected our next president. Personally I think he was the wrong choice, do I think John McCain would do a better job? Simply put, No. I voted for John McCain because of his stance on certain issues, the major issue being right to life vs. right to choice. When Barrack Obama said that answering the question of when life begins was “Above his pay grade” He lost all chance of me voting for him because he has supported Partial birth abortions, if it is above his pay grade to choose when life begins than he should not have voted either way on partial birth abortion. I will not get into the life issue right now though.
I have heard people say that Obama is the antichrist…I can tell you that I don’t think he is. But I do think he has the ability to steer the United States into a very bad direction.
First I’ll talk about his views on the military.
He wants to bring our troops home quickly. Great, I say get them home as soon as practically possible. Problem:: if you remove all US activity from Iraq and the new government isn’t capable of standing up for itself Al Quida will regain control and we will have some serious trouble to deal with.
I don’t know that what we did when we invaded Iraq was called for, some times I think we need to stop sticking our nose in other peoples business. But I know that removing Sudam Husain from power was Good, removing Al Quida from power was Good.
Leaving that country to fend for itself if it is not ready to, would not only be Bad, but it would be Wrong. I don’t care if it was G. W. Bush who put us there, if Barack Obama lets that country fall apart then it will be his fault, NOT Bush’s. At least Bush refused cut and run from his mistake. What we are doing in Iraq right not basically comes down to owning up to our mistake. Barack Obama (and others) want to act like we can swipe it under the rug. This will hurt us greatly.
Last on the Military issue is this:: I don’t think he has any idea of how the Military works or what it stands for. “Don’t give some one who doesn’t know how to shoot a gun the key to the worlds biggest guns.”
Secondly I want to talk about his views on foreign policy.
He has said that he will talk with world leader that we have not talked to.
America used to stand up to terror like Popeye with a can of Spinach. There are very few pages in the “How to deal with Terrorists” Handbook, page one :: “DO NOT NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS” page two:: “SEE PAGE ONE” page three:: “Up hold freedom and JUSTICE…and the American way.”
But this isn’t just about Terrorists, its about all the leaders out there who don’t uphold freedom and justice.
The other “western” countries don’t seem to have some of the problems we do when it comes to terrorists. I don‘t know of to many countries that hate, lets say, France. But that is because these countries focus on America because for so long America has stood as the symbol of the “western” world, and recently it is because we have refused to back down from our beliefs.
America is the country that has been big and bad enough to stand up and say, “That’s it.” We stood up and told Communism to stuff it, even when it meant ending up bloody and bruised. When Terrorists demand the US Government pay for hostages, the NAVY Seals suit up and make payments in shipments of lead, “from gun barrel with love”. We were GI Joe, we keep the bad guys in check so others don’t have to and some times, every now and again, we are Superman, when nobody else can get the job done.
America may have a bad reputation, but if I learned anything in school its that standing up for what is Good and Right often gives you a bad reputation. For a long time America was the star jock and the guy who did what was right…it was the American dream. I think about playing cops and robbers… “You’ll never take me alive copper, bang!” there was no negotiating, there was the Good guy and the Bad guy.
Now we are starting to act like every body else. We are putting away the old beliefs. We are putting away American Pride. We are losing jobs because “Proudly Made In America” doesn’t mean as much to us as it used to. We want to make friends with every body. We want to talk with every body. Even Jesus didn’t talk with all the people all the time. Some times you just have to tip the tables over and say “That’s it.”
But I’ve ranted enough.
All I can do is hope and pray that Barack Obama turns out to be a good president. I pray that he does half as much good as he says he will, (although not necessarily the “good” that he says he will do) I pray that he does change what needs to be changed and he leaves what needs to be left. I pray that he wakes up every morning refreshed and goes to sleep every night with out worry. I pray that no harm comes to him or his family while he is in office. I pray that no disasters strike his term in office. I pray that he will be good for America. And I pray that others will support him in this same way.
I could not support him at the polls because he does not stand for what I stand for, but I can and will support him this way, because he is the next president of the United States of America.

The One and Only

2008-11-03T07:46:00.000-08:00

so, I thought about starting another blog to blog about "serious" stuff and not just post pics about cars and my photo stuff. It was tempting. But then I realized that that would be dumb, why do I need two different blogs? You don't have two different Chucks walking around, one to be serious and one to talk about other stuff. Its just one of me.

I relize that we have this idea that serious stuff and funny stuff don't go together for some reason. Why is it that what we do for fun and what we do for "serious" reasons are so easy to seperate? But we do it all the time, we are one person at work, one person at school, and a totally different person at home. And then one day all those selfs have to collide, and that gets weird fast.

So this will be the only Blog, so if I follow this up with pictures of me burning out in my car (most likely) then you will just have to deal with that cause thats who I am. Peace.

A post about guy stuff...namely, a car.

2008-10-31T17:59:00.000-07:00

This is not the Rooster...that is saved for later (when I get a Card reader for my Cannon)

But I would have no problems with this car being mine...haha, yeah...right...that can't even happen in my dreams. enjoy.

I hung a u-turn and parked on the wrong side of the street to take pictures of this car...people must have figured I was crazy...standing in the middle of the street taking pictures of a car...I'm a car guy, so sue me...

and so the blogging begins.

2008-10-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

Well, this is the first thing in theRooster Gallery...More to Come.

PS: Thanks a freaking lot Jenna...Gr.

AceStudio :: Blog

S(uperheroes) A(nonymous)

Welcome to SUMMERville

Today I found out why I drive a convertible

Where I am, where I'm going

Easter, $15 at the door please

Snow Panorama!

Because enough people take pictures during the day

Surgery

"Church for Ghosts"

What I want and what really is...

New web Browsers are FUN

UNexpected?

"To Write Love on Her Arms"

Photography

Plank.

"Love over all"

some things that melt the plastic.

Biking

I know I'm moving... I just don't know where.

the "reverse" God Moment

ER

Happy 4th of July

Some times God's not talking...

"the fire"

A poem

Life: it's good

Tired

FWDed to the blog.

More from the Newsboys show

WHOLE WISE FREE

WHOLE WISE FREE

NEWSBOYS

Mandatory Military Service

Transit: Whole, Wise, Free

Bread of Stone, Vota, and Newsboys

One of lifes little secrets revield:

Easter

UNfail

Major FAIL

The latest (buy maybe not greatest) project!

Peddlers Pocket

my computer is a zombie

Vinyl

Epson Stylus Photo r1900!

Feb...spring...and the smell of burnt rubber.

*WARNING:: Political Rant* Mr. President, you are a liar.

CS4 and the Gallery is actually being used as a gallery!

3 hours = 12 hours

Back to school and spending money like a crazy person!

some ramblings.

Scrooge and a Dead Guy.

Five to Twelve and two days to an Art show.

We got Greed

We got Gas...

The Rooster:: minor invasive surgery.

Warning :: Political Rant

The One and Only

A post about guy stuff...namely, a car.

and so the blogging begins.

WARNING:: Political Rant Mr. President, you are a liar.