I'm speechless

Will we ever figure out that some nations are using us, only to destroy us?

CHINA PREPARING FOR WAR AND FEW NOTICE

Ever since President Richard Nixon entered into détente with the communist regime in China, America has doggedly assisted in the commercial and military buildup of the Marxist nation. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have mollycoddled the Red Chinese to the point that now they have grown big enough to cause serious concern.
Both Bill Clinton and G.W. Bush have facilitated the transfers of billions of dollars of commercial assistance to Red China, not to mention vast amounts of technology which China has used to further its military machine. Each president refuses to identify China as an adversary, choosing rather to call it a "trading partner." However, China has not been hesitant to use this assistance to construct a formidable military apparatus. At the same time, the U.S. seems determined to reduce our military, especially our navy, to dangerously low levels.
For example, since Ronald Reagan left office, the United States has reduced its navy from a fleet of 600 ships and submarines to 288 and shrinking. To give the reader an idea of just how small our navy has become, our current navy fleet is equal in size to that when William Howard Taft was in office!
Beyond that, our carrier fleet is on its way to the elephant graveyard. Three of the five in service were built before 1975. Consider, too, that the number of fighter aircraft has dropped to fewer than 3,500 and is expected to fall to under 2,000. However, while the United States continues to mothball its military, Communist China is (with America's help) building its military like there is no tomorrow.
The Washington Times recently reported that "China soon will receive a new Kilo submarine from Russia, part of a naval buildup of modern warships and submarines that has triggered new fears for U.S. military planners.
"It is the first of eight advanced Kilos that China is acquiring, and intelligence officials say the submarine will be outfitted with advanced SS-N-27 cruise missiles, which are capable of attacking U.S. warships. Since 2002, China has built 14 submarines."
The Times report quoted one intelligence official as saying, "China's surface-to-air missile forces also are increasing, including new short- and long-range missiles, along with a new warhead that can maneuver to avoid missile defenses.
"If you take a step back and look at the entire array of Chinese weapons, the Kilos, the Songs, the Yuans, the ballistic missiles, this [maneuverable warhead] capability, more surface ships with anti-ship cruise missiles, these are all things that are going to give you capability to deal with any kind of naval force that comes toward you."
The China Reform Monitor recently ran a report saying, "Experts are warning that China is outpacing the United States in the development of attack submarines and could have as much as a three-to-one advantage over the United States by 2025."
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld recently warned that "China's investment in missiles and up-to-date military technology posed a risk not only to Taiwan and to American interests, but also to nations across Asia that view themselves as China's trading partners, not rivals."
Most all China experts agree that the Marxist government in Beijing is planning to attack Taiwan and is preparing to take on the United States if we interfere. It has more than doubled its fleet of amphibious landing and troop-carrying ships. It has entered into an agreement with Russia which guarantees Russia will not help the United States should conflict erupt between the U.S. and China. And just weeks ago, China even participated in joint military maneuvers with Russia. But the Chinese threat is actually even more ominous.
Syndicated columnist, Cal Thomas, recently quoted from a new book written by former special assistant for national security affairs to Ronald Reagan and CIA national intelligence officer, Constantine Menges, entitled, China: The Gathering Threat. Thomas quotes Menges as noting that "China has defined America as its 'main enemy' and can launch nuclear weapons at the U.S. capable of killing 100 million of us.
Thomas continues quoting Menges as saying, "China has threatened to destroy entire American cities if the U.S. helps Taiwan defend itself against a military assault or invasion. China also buys Russian weapons designed to sink U.S. aircraft carriers. It controls more than $200 billion in U.S. debt and sells more than 40 percent of its exports to America, using the profits to strengthen its economy and advanced weapons systems aimed at the U.S."
Furthermore, a World Net Daily report dated Tuesday, September 13, 2005, quotes a Chinese dissident as stating unequivocally that Beijing is planning nuclear war. The WND report states, "Wei Jingsheng, who spent 18 years in detention for his pro-democracy activism, told a forum at the National Press Club in Washington that China needs the distraction of a war with Taiwan to turn attention away from the people's frustration with rampant corruption and failed policies at home."
The WND report also quoted Jingsheng as saying, "The Chinese Communist Party is considering nuclear war, because it is not afraid to sacrifice China's people." Jingsheng cited Chinese general Zhu Chenghu's recent public declaration that "we [China] will prepare ourselves for the destruction of all the cities east of Xian" which would include Shanghai and Beijing. When one considers that China could lose the equivalent of the entire U.S. population and still have over 700 million people left, General Chengu's threat cannot be taken lightly.
So, while the United States continues to spend its manpower and monies on a mouse-size threat in Iraq, it is virtually ignoring-no, worse than that, it is commercially aiding and abetting-our most serious threat: Communist China. Just about everything we buy these days is stamped "Made in China," major American corporations have moved and are moving their plants and operations to China, and all of this is being encouraged by our own government in Washington, D.C. Lenin was right: we are purchasing the rope which will be used to hang us!

What is your time worth?

What did I do yesterday? Let's see, I came home from work to mow the lawn and then I started to watch TV while I ate dinner. In fact I not only started to watch TV, that's all I did until bed. Congratulations on wasting a whole, entire day!

That's the blessing/curse about living in America. Not only are there so many things to do, that you can fill up your time with any type of activity you want, but most of us do exactly that. We can go to the movies (in a theater or at home), go bowling, watch TV, work out, go dancing, fix up your home, polish your car, practice a musical instrument, work, catch a game, sit on a computer, sit in a library, or any other idea you can come up with. Many of these things are fun, and some are necessary. But, are any of these ever an excuse to keep you from investing into somebody else? Do we use these activities to spend time and build relationships with others, or to busy ourselves up, to keep us from an intimate friendship with another person? That is the million dollar question. There are so many things to do in America, but we can use those things to bond with others, instead of using them to put up walls. It is when we build friendships with others and give them our time, our most valuable resource, that we can start to use the gifts we have to make this world a better place. I'm not saying that we need to spend all of our time with others. Everyone needs to recharge their batteries. If you love to watch football, host football parties. If you like to work on cars, help your friend with his/hers. If you like movies, watch them with others. If you like to play a musical instrument, jam with others often- or join a group. Simply by knowing that you care, somebody will have your kindness to think about when times are rough. And maybe, just maybe, they will start to spread the love too.

The Victor and The Vanquished

So, we played a show in Minneapolis last Saturday. Good times... Things sounded so tight. We saw so many friends, and made others. It felt good. I am excited to see what is around the corner. It's amazing how things come together. There's a song we wrote that I absolutely love called "The Victor and The Vanquished". I start the song with this monologue over this ethereal, drifting, thickness laid down by the rest of the band. By the end of the song it erupts into this fury of chest pounding anguish, as the waves of musical intensity crash over you. I had people asking me, specifically about that song, what it meant. I had an opportunity to really make a difference to some people last night. Not that I'm all that great or anything, but things happened, supernaturally, to open the door for this song to affect people. They got it. They understood, and felt the pangs too. I'll share it with you. Maybe it will mean something. The monologue starts off like this:

There are few tales of my journey to The West
Don't believe most of what you hear.
You see, I entered the death march at my birth
My soul shackled to the throng, like all the rest.
I was awakened from my slumber upon my arrival in the Great Plains.
Frantically I searched for a way out, but there was none.
I knew I was in the wrong place in my awakened state,
But everybody else listlessly marched on.
And then the Ancient Ones came down on every side and showed me everything under the sun.
I will not go down like that,
I have to believe...
I have to believe...
I have to believe...
That I will find my place between The Victor and The Vanquished!

and then the song goes like this:

V-Used to think I stood for something
But fooled by those who fell for everything
Oh Lord, I'm so confused
Between the heretics and hypocrites

V-I only wanted to get it right
But failed by those who fell for everything
There's got to be an answer in between
I sit here between The Victor and The Vanquished

C-Two by four between the eyes
And I sit here stunned
I'd like to think that I am healthy
But can I be the only one

V-So many signals, so many signs
So many claiming that they are right
I cling to you, my hope, my joy
To clear this fog out from my eyes

C-Two by four...

© 2005 Fastest Turbo Fire Engine/Sweatshop Music

This song chronicles being a person of faith in current times. On one side you have people of many faiths (including your own), telling you that the way you believe is hateful and archaic, and on the other side, the people that make everybody else see your faith that way. They say you are too permissive and too "in the world". They both come at you, with teeth showing, demanding that you change to fit in with the way they see things. Unfortunately, I don't see things like that. There are elements of truth to either side, but I feel that the truth is somewhere in the middle. Many Christians today, have become Pharasees of the highest order. They try to exact the Ten Commandments on you like they wish they could follow them. They hold to hundreds of special rules, that aren't even in scripture, but are made up by their denominations. On the other hand, there are many who try to explain away our faith or create these other sets of "guidelines" that (though their infinite "wisdom") hold the "true secrets" of the universe. Me, I try to read what God says, and take Him at His word. I try to hold to the middle, even if I am the only one on Earth who believes it. I'm not, but it doesn't matter if I were. Those of us that hold a balanced view of faith, are under constant attack from those on either side for being too much like the other side, but not enough like themselves. It's all about love, love, love, and a willingness to live in a manner that allows God's kingdom to thrive on Earth, through you. I have enough troubles living up to my own expectations to worry about anybody else's. I will be a thorn in the side of all heretics and hypocrites, and a friend of all people looking for love, truth, and acceptance until I die. That is my charge.

A New Fire

I've got a new fire under me in the last month. You know, it makes you wonder with the rising price of everything, increasing threats to security, and all the other things going on, how long can we last? The religious right oversteps it's bounds into U.S. or world politics, instead of teaching people about God's love. The left continues to strip the world of its morals and give power to those that would gladly take it to harm us. We've got more enemies than we can count. Our allies don't always get along so well either. There are natural disasters, famine and pestilence all over the globe. There are about 50 wars going on, and rumors that more will start. Companies cut workers to save a buck without so much as batting an eye. Everything seems to be spiraling out of control...

Sit down, close your eyes- and- take- a- deep- breath. There. I felt like that too. I did just as I prescribed. I know what I have to do. I write songs and play music. I have something to tell everybody. I need to go out and do it. No more goofing off, sitting in Minneapolis, playing a limited number of shows to the same people in the same bars. No! To quote Switchfoot, "We were meant to live for so much more". I believe it. It won't happen if I'm not out there doing it. I can't kind of do it. I can't think about doing it. I just have to count all I have here as worthless in comparison to completing the course I was meant to run. that's where I will find my fulfillment and help bring about peace and joy to a world with very little of it. We tend to overthink everything. It causes inaction. Inaction causes stagnation, and it allows for harmful things to gain momentum. I am putting my foot down, and am going to try and reverse just a little bit of the damage I've allowed to occur, by getting side-tracked. I urge you to do the same.

GREGOREUO

The Greek word GREGOREUO means to "keep awake", and is sometimes translated as "vigilant".

The floods in New Orleans were a kind of wake-up call for me. We came together to help New York heal from 9/11 and are assisting to reconstruct the lives of displaced New Orleans residents. We, as citizens, do a pretty good job of coming together in the face tragedy. What if, however, we suffered major losses in multiple cities? Millions of people out of work, lives shattered, and hopes dashed. How would we recover? Have you thought about what you would do? Our economy would suffer tremendously. Our people wouldn't be able to rebound as quickly. Are we prepared to deal with something like that? Many Muslims want us dead. Storms are getting closer together and more violent. People are becoming less civil. Our society is characterized by fighting, arguing, out-cunning the next guy, polarizing, and the like. You have a chance to matter now. Don't wait until something bad happens. Be an agent for world betterment now. Michael Neudow dies and his claim to fame can be, "I spent my life making sure the pledge was deemed unconstitutional!" What a waste of a life! There are hungry who need feeding, naked who need clothing, lonely who need loving. And he chooses to waste his life battling the Pledge of Allegiance! Don't get so caught up in trying to affect things, that ultimately don't matter, that you miss your greater calling. GREGOREUO!!!

A sad, sad, day (or week)

The Southeastern US coast has been decimated by hurricane Katrina. People are left without homes, food, water, and some of their family and friends. What do you suppose the best course of action would be to assist this situation? I know. Let's steal things that have no influence on our survival, shoot at rescue workers, rob our neighbors' homes (while they're still in them), kill, destroy, start fires, rape, and otherwise cause as much trouble for everyone else, as we can.
New Orleans is a big city. This is not a handful of people doing this. A handful of people couldn't make much of a dent, and they would be put down by now. How did we come so far from human decency? When did we decide that man is about survival of the fittest, instead of helping our neighbor? When did we shirk our progress as humans, and regress to animal nature? I'll admit it, I'm befuddled. What do we hope to achieve by attacking each other in our time of need? These thugs can not be what America is becoming. If I am wrong, God help us. If I am wrong, we'll need a lot more than hope to survive much longer. New Orleans will be in my thoughts and prayers. May they overcome this terrible, terrible, tragedy and pull out of this, together.