Innovation or Two Left Feet: Part 10 of The Drummer's Almanac

Let the onslaught begin!!!

I finally added a double-kick pedal to my kit. It was something I was reluctant to buy at first because I wanted to make sure I didn't get too big for my britches.

To master single-kick is something to accomplish all on it's own, but I feel that I have a full toolbox with one foot beating. I can double stroke with ease and I was getting myslef into a rut. So, what do you do when you get into a rut, you innovate.

To do this I needed to expand and push myself. To go back to my glory days as a metal head when I owned two bass drums and had a helmet/mullet hairstyle. When the double bass phenomenon was being pushed by the likes of Metallica on "One" and Slayer on everything they did.

Later, my style changed from metal to jazz and then to worship music. I started getting inspired by the likes of Earthsuit and Neil Peart's fresh take on the use of a double kick pedal. They used the double bass as a compliment to the song, not just to see how fast they could play or to just thrash out because it sounded cool. It was a tool to implement when the song facilitated the room for it.

I added my new pedal to my kit on Christmas Day. It was so gratifying and empowering to have such an arsenal at my feet. I kicked out Rush's "One Little Victory" with moderate trouble, but overcame the timing concerns and smoothed it out.

The only concern with the addition is that it pushes my Hi-hat pedal to the left and I now have to switch between the hi-hat and the kick pedal with my weakest foot. I actually have two left feet placements on my kit and it will take a while to get comfortable.

I can't wait to incorporate a twist of metal and jazz into some worship music.

Everything You Desire

I know it seemed like I hate Atheists in my last rant, but really that is just not the truth.

I feel the need to say that I just don't agree with their beliefs. I don't agree that life is over when we die. I don't agree that life is an accident.

This doesn't mean that I'm intolerant or that I'm insensitive because I'm not open minded enough to accept their beliefs. It just means that I don't agree.

I want them to see that there is hope and that life extends beyond their physical viewpoint of existence. I want them to know that God's love is greater than anything they have known or will ever know in this life. I want them to know that they don't have to throw away God because someone forced them to be religious or didn't live up to the standards they set.

I also don't want to force this view on them. Like God, I want them to experience the true God. The God of grace and love. He is too big to just look at on paper or hear about. You must experience His touch to know that He is everything you desire.

Atheist Christmas Music

Whut!?! Shut yo mouph foo !!! Gooolaay!

Our friend Christy came over to our house to show off her new engagement ring. She started talking about how Christmas at the daycare was being portrayed to the kids and that only one parent objected to the story of the candy cane being handed out to the kids.

One of her co-workers at the day care is an atheist. This is only an issue because this woman is very adamant about her faith or lack there of. The daycare was listening to traditional Christmas music when this woman told our friend Christy that she wanted to listen to her Atheist Christmas Music.

Whut!?!

That so sounds like an SNL skit if I ever heard one. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.

I just have to ask what the holiday is about if not about any Gods. Kwanza, Channukah, and Christmas all involve a God.

What are her holidays about?

I was watching a show with Bawbwa Waltews called "Is there A Heaven?" She went all over the world getting interviews with the likes of the Dali Lama and other religious leaders. All of them told her she was not living the right lifestyle and she was going to hell because she didn't believe what they believed. Kind of funny.

She spoke to the leader of the Atheists about life after death. The woman was condemming anything to do with the subject. Barbera asked her how she feels about it all ending after life is over. The woman said, "I'm not happy about it, but I accept that life is over when we die." It was sad! She also said she had to make her life as great as it could be while she was here.

I ask, Why???!!!??? If it doesn't matter in the end, why try? Nobody will measure it in the end. You will be forgotten among men.

She then said, "If you say there is a Heaven, then you must prove it.

Faith was not an option.

Faith was left up to scientific fact that some people are prone to being more faithful than others because of their genetic structure.

So much for mustard seed faith.

I guess I might as well give up growing my faith because my genes can only handle so much. God must only be close to those who have bigger faith genes than others. This explains why I don't feel close to God sometimes.

Well, I guess I'll just put in my Atheist Christmas Music and drive on down the road to the end of my life with no hope and nothing to gain, but death.

Merry Chri..........

Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!! Hope your life sucks too!

We're A Family Now!

My wife and I trekked out into the abyss of Christmas shopping this weekend. We were trying to finish up the few people left on our list and my oldest son fell asleep. So, we got some Wendy's and ate lunch.

Then, we drove around so he would get to sleep for a while as we had more shopping to do. As we drove, we came to some car dealerships and we decided to just window shop.

Yeah, right!!!!

So we bought a van!!!! we had the salesman run some numbers and Casey said she heard God say it was alright to buy it and we did. They knocked off a couple thousand dollars and gave us a good deal.

We've been looking because my wife babysits a girl and we need the carseat space. We made the decision to go with a van and it hurt at first, but it feels good, now. There was a couple who were buying a SUV and they talked with us about buying a van. They said they haven't been able to make the jump to a van because it wasn't hip for them. We laughed because everything is about function for us right now.

We finally have our very own family truckster. "We're a family, now!!!", as Kelly said.

Take Me For Longing

"Take me for longing or leave me behind" is the lyric of an Alison Krauss & Union Station song from the song by the same name.

It is truly how I felt yesterday upon hearing the news that I was not selected for a training opportunity to become a Global Career Counselor. The facilitators requested a resume and a letter of intent to be selected.

"Don't choose me because I am faithful, don't choose me because I am kind."

I received a letter in my mailbox that said I was not selected due to the number of applicants and my lack of eduation. This doesn't make much sense to me because if I had the education I wouldn't need the training, but what do I know?!?

"If your heart settles on me, I'm for the takin"

I would have loved to get this opportunity because it would have solidified my position at West Central. I am looking to be promoted in a couple of years to a coordinator position and because I lack education, his would have beefed up the ole resume.

I want to say they missed a great opportunity to have me. I also want to say they can have their stupid training, but I really wanted it.

I am longing and upset, but, unfortunately, they are not.

They left me behind.

Dashboard Confessional

A car was coming over the hill as I pulled out and tried to get to speed limit before they got too close. I was too slow because he started riding my bumper and I couldn't see his headlights. This infuriated me and I tappped the brakes. He backed off for a moment and then sped up on my bumper again as he passed me. He then just passed me and went on his way.

As he passed me, I gestured, "bring it on", like some stupid oaf that don't know any better.

After he gets about a quarter mile down the road, conviction set in and I found myself thanking him. The guy just passed me. He didn't really do anything, but make me nervous when he got too close.

I thanked him for not responding to me, which let me know how ridiculous I was being. I also prayed that the Lord would bless him. I don't like to hate on people, but I find myself getting frustrated in the car a lot!

Lord, help me to extend grace to others as I wish they would extend to me. Thank You for giving me awareness of this problem and showing me Your grace.

Identity In Christ

I saw one of my friends walking out of Krogers, so I said hello. He said he had been thinking of me and was going to call me to give drum lessons to his daughter. I had to explain that I'm not able to do that right now, but maybe sometime later. His daughter walked away and we talked about how he was doing. Awesome, by the way! He is going to a Vineyard in Columbus and is growing tremendously.

He then said, I haven't forgot what you said when we ate at Arby's that day." I told him I forgot, so he needs to remind me. He then said, "My identity is in Christ and not anyone else. I am an overcomer! Not a victim!"

At first, I thought, "Wow, that came from me?!?" Then I realized God was telling me that I will never know when he is using me to witness. I had only lived through that experience and shared it with my friend. The glory goes to Him and he has not forgot me. I had no idea that would affect my friend, but it did. Praise God!

Just when I thought I was not being very effective, I hear something that makes me get on my knees. It also reminded me that I am an overcomer, also. I am not condemned even though I sometimes feel like it. I am not useless, even though I sometimes think I am. I am not what I always think I am. A weird concept, but true. I am who God thinks I am.

Aaron, this is also a shout out to you. You told it to me first and I am continually living it out. Praise the Lord!!!!!!!