Coming 2 Soon

iParadox

2011-03-11T16:15:00.001-08:00

You needn't feel so much in control of the world around you that you try to lose control in hopes of satisfying your sense of sanity.

Cactus thingy plant - Click on image for larger size

2011-01-18T02:55:00.000-08:00

Remind Me

2010-10-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

Remind me never to ostracise my enemies.

Over The Edge

2010-08-04T04:22:00.000-07:00

It seems I've got to keep pushing myself over the edge,
Or else I'll stop learning;
And every step forward lights a path I never saw before,
Leading to an end I'm ever longing for;
Well so it seems.
I guess I'll find out...

Vengeance

2010-05-25T02:17:00.000-07:00

Thy Splaysh

2010-03-27T07:42:00.001-07:00

And all of a sudden it hit me
this poetry performance thing is just too freakin intense
its like one rhyme being mauled after another by its successor
its a freight train thats never eased of its burden

but now the emotion has eased
and I now feel its acceptable to let my thoughts be loosed
let them be free from formality and conformity
they will simply sway outside in the wind where I leave them
not troubled by verse or phrase, or an over-ambitious guardian
one who is likened to a control freak

so I will set it in words as and where I see fit
it will be a sculpt of my choice, moulding the elements tightly or weak
these are my thoughts and feelings in word, free
splaysh!

Calendar

2010-02-17T01:29:00.001-08:00

This is my calendar
It holds all the important events I don't want to miss

With a width of 77mm and length of 124mm, its not much
A bland brown cover, crisp white pages, and sleek black ribbon are all it can boast

My entries are concise, so as not to flaunt its economy
And I never let it get too far from me, never

Page after page after page, it reads like clockwork
Yet while in awe of such magnificence I can feel I am losing part of myself

Flower of Forgiveness

2010-02-06T07:35:00.000-08:00

My Friend

2009-12-20T06:17:00.000-08:00

I have a friend who is strong as can be
He walks around brazen, and conquers all I see
But when I think of the times he never fell
I am reminded by some laughter, its never far to fall to hell

Its never far to fall to hell
Its never far to fall to hell

I know a man who does well at all there is
He dances, oh he dances, until the morning light is his
But when I hear of all the good he brings
I listen to the call from the ground, death will bring the final stings

Death will bring the final stings
Death will bring the final stings

I met a fellow who made it through the bad
He clung to his life and hurled it through the sad
But when I feel the tears he never cries
I am moved with compassion, for tears will heal the lies

Tears will hear the lies
Tears will hear the lies

I found a stranger who was out of luck and charm
He had fallen to his knees and begged for mercy’s arm
But when I taste the bitterness of his pride
I clench my fist until repentance changes the bitter side

Repentance changes the bitter side
Repentance changes the bitter side

I tripped over a lonely soul from the heavens above
He lay there on the ground, then rose to his feet like a dove
But when I realised he had pulled me to my feet
I looked towards his face and was surprised to find my friend’s heart beat

My friend’s heart beat
My friend’s heart beat

I have now learnt a lesson from my life
He was foolish until his fall, then arose out of strife
But when I think of all I have said and done
I am who I am, because love shines on all like the sun

Love shines on all like the sun
Love shines on all like the sun

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

2009-10-03T20:35:00.000-07:00

empty
like a glass with no water, a bowl of nothing
take me to the heavens as a carry bag, and bring me back as a parachute
I'll be the apparatus you least expect, the saving grace unrealised

cold to the touch, and unbecoming
death yields little contrast
It is as road-kill to the crows
a sentiment of the things to come

so take heed
crave the light, but tell of the night
a void lingers within the soul
empty

no sediments, just fuzzy nothings
feelings of leisure and talent
delving deep but never arriving
healing lameness, and concluding

why hear the birds
why see the stars
why know beauty
it is as water through a sieve

find yourself estranged
but save others from my vanity
packets of nowhere
empty

Change

2009-09-23T22:29:00.000-07:00

Well I can't explain this weather colliding over me
And I guess I can't deny it, some things are meant to be
No I don't have all the pieces, just tryin' to escape
I don't even know boundaries, but I know life sometimes grates

Have a little faith in God
Let your hope stand in change
Have faith in God
Know that things just re-arrange
And when the stormclouds have passed
And you're looking brighter...

Well I can't explain this moment being more than I can see
And I guess I can't rewind it, some things are a part of me
No I don't have all the answers, just tryin' to relate
I don't even know the reason, but I know life's full of mistakes

Have a little faith in God
Let your hope stand in change
Have faith in God
Know that things just re-arrange
And when the stormclouds have passed
And you're looking brighter
You know you will have changed

Status Quo

2009-09-15T07:47:00.000-07:00

I don't want to be extreme status quo;
It's not healthy, its not meek, its not me.
I don't want to spend a lifetime perfecting a certain skill, or doing a job well;
It's not life.
I don't want to learn the world and forget a face;
It's an injustice and a tragedy.
I don't want to be extreme status quo;
It's an art I'm not willing to be.

Announcement

2009-08-30T05:15:00.000-07:00

If you'd like to check it out, I've started a new blog called 'raw attitude', and is just drawings.
http://rawattitude.blogspot.com

Emotionable

2009-08-26T03:46:00.001-07:00

So fragile amidst the floods of change
Resolute, vanquished, forgotten but laid to waste
From the highest mountain down to the depths of drought
She knows the thought, the feeling, the suspense of emotive embrace

A plummet from the roof-top, zeal forged in brilliance
Compounded structures, one after another, and all is merely said to be
So resilient on the wings of change, soaring!
Emotion has captured my every being, from blindness to now I see

Its joy, its bliss, its ecstasy on a runaway train
Its a trance while remaining conscious, but I will explode if I don't find relief

Out of Tune

2009-07-27T05:35:00.000-07:00

was once a time of leisure
we somehow lost it to the deal
was once a time of excitement
but we somehow lost our innocence

and now we don't see it anymore

can you remember the time you failed
and you never looked across the room
because no-one was looking over your shoulder
and it was fun learning out of tune

was once a time of leisure
was once a time of excitement

and now we don't see it anymore

but if you can remember
it was fun learning out of tune

Mountain

2009-07-14T08:17:00.000-07:00

Way up high upon this steeple of craze
Lightning and the clouds surround the man in a haze
Don’t have to stare too long and you’ll begin to see
He’s lost all sense of right and become a bit naïve

I’ll tell you the story of, this MOUNTAIN, that MOUNTAIN
I’ll fix it to your eyes, this MOUNTAIN, that MOUNTAIN
I’ll call the sun to shine on, this MOUNTAIN, that MOUNTAIN
And you all know…

Way up high upon this steeple of craze
Lightning and the clouds surround the man in a haze
Ask a simple question: "What is your response?"
He’s been making plans and you’re not in his thoughts

I’ll tell you the story of, this MOUNTAIN, that MOUNTAIN
I’ll fix it to your eyes, this MOUNTAIN, that MOUNTAIN
I’ll call the sun to shine on, this MOUNTAIN, that MOUNTAIN
And you all know…
I’ll tell you the story of, this MOUNTAIN, that MOUNTAIN
I’ll fix it to your eyes, this MOUNTAIN, that MOUNTAIN
I’ll call the sun to shine on, this MOUNTAIN, that MOUNTAIN
And you all know…
And you all know…
And you all know…

The story of, this MOUNTAIN, that MOUNTAIN
[And you all know…]
To your eyes, this MOUNTAIN, that MOUNTAIN
[And you all know…]
Sun shines upon, this MOUNTAIN, that MOUNTAIN
And you all know.

Less Than Average Joe

2009-06-25T04:28:00.000-07:00

Not a movie star, not a rock star, not a celebrity
Not a prime minister, not a rocket scientist, and not an inventor
Not a banker, a businessman, a teacher, or a tradesman, or any kind of authority
He passes by lightly, and you mightn't notice he came at all
You could tell him a thousand words and not one would fall to the ground
But in brevity he will declare one or two, and someone will say: 'Did he say anything?'
No, no, he's not a shy, hidden talent, or in the least bit interesting
As plain as day, as sure as night - he is as dirt
And nothing is important to him, nothing
You could give the world to him, promote him to the highest rank
Lord him, adore him, pledge your very soul
But nothing is important to him, nothing
Except life

Seek

2009-06-18T20:53:00.000-07:00

Seek and you will find, but what is it I seek? I look for beauty with my eyes, I listen for harmony with my ears, and feel for pleasure with my limbs. When I ask, I expect an answer; when I speak, I expect a listener; but how can I not know what I seek? It’s there – I see it; it’s near – I hear it; and when all is stripped away, it’s within – I know it. I walk to a place far away, and it is there; I cease from all activity, and it is there; and on a cloudy day, I see nothing. Blindness must be the seeker’s curse, or deafness and even dismemberment; if he is to see, if he is to hear or touch, if he is to find. But illusions can be found – many times over; and who will know? Yet if the knower will seek to know, then his answer will be found. He sees, he hears, he feels; but does he know? Treasure found is treasure found; and he will know when he knows. But is ‘knowing’ what I seek? Or do I seek to know something or someone?

To You

2009-05-23T02:14:00.000-07:00

As I consider the modality of this age
I know it is flawed and I know it needs change
Clearly its not her appearance that needs attention
For she looks okay on the outside, but behind the mask is what's in question
So voice the message on every street
Shout it aloud on the roof-tops with rhythm and beat
Its a wondrous sight but I don't understand
Maybe its just bland!?
But it doesn't seem popular for people to stand
Up for honest to God integrity, virtue and value in them and their land
So I ask humbly: do you have a plan?
A plan for the betterment of mankind
For the sick, lonely, depressed and undermined
For cancers that are all too often declared to have 'magically' appeared
Despite countless signs of environmental and nutritional values adulterated and un-adhered
Confessions of profit but only when it is profitable
What a mess and a joke, its people like you and I that are being treated as expendable!
Nothing in this world is too dark or too sinister
For the almighty dollar is above and beyond good, evil, and even the minister
Worth more than your father, your mother, your brother and your sister
Who may see things differently, but we're all in this big picture
So I encourage sincerely: be the change we desperately need to administer

Stuck

2009-05-03T04:44:00.000-07:00

Towards a better something
A different flavour to taste
Meaning to go further
A little more further than before

And then the alarm rings
Time won't wait any longer

Echo, echo, echo
Stuck on this, stuck on me
Echo, echo, echo
Stuck

Leaning in anticipation
A different life to experience
Meaning to find favour
A little more fortune than before

And then the alarm rings
Time dictates my next move

Echo, echo, echo
Echo, echo, echo
Stuck

Ecliptical

2009-03-11T21:26:00.000-07:00

Journey to Light

2009-01-03T21:30:00.000-08:00

There I stood, lightning all around, thunder echoing throughout the land. "Its not too far from here" I said to myself. The leaves delicately clung to the tree branches as they were rustled mercilessly in the wind. "Such is life" I thought, remembering past sentiments. It seems so hard to let go at times, and how rare would it be to experience such a moment with easiness, unless I was careless! But things change, as do the seasons, and I now feel no more remorse than I do jubilee in this grand traverse.

"Why so many steps God? Can't I just lift my foot and land at my destination?" I'm convinced it wouldn't be a great feat for an all-knowing, all-powerful being to lend me a hand now and again - especially when things get tough. It would be like simply flicking a switch! Surely if I can see the reason in that, then so can He. He is, after all, more than capable - right? I've read and heard many, many stories of God's awesome miracle power, from the beginning of universe through to Noah, and then Abraham, Moses, a talking donkey, astonishing battle victories, a virgin birth, dead men rising, bread and fish being inconceivably multiplied, walking on water, walking out of prisons, and providing vacant parking bays! There seems to be no end to His diversity! - So why not here and now, in my situation? I'm sure I heard right when the minister said "When you pray, God will answer". Well the prayer of my pounding heart and aching legs are sounding loud and clear to me! - I wonder if God can hear with all that thunder blasting away? But that can't be the problem, since He's all-knowing and all, so I guess I'll just keep going...

WOW! That was pretty kool! I can't wait to tell, uhh, someone,... when I get to, umm, where someone is I guess? Nah, who wants to here that anyway? People are so caught up in their busy-nesses that they wouldn't give two seconds to know what I just saw, and even if they did, I'm sure they wouldn't see the value in it. Maybe they're not capable of such comprehension. Its like I would need a full-motion feature movie to get my point across, and then, if the 'penny' has managed to drop further than its diameter, I might be lucky to escape with only a few rocks thrown at me! People don't like to hear what hurts their ego - at least thats what I think - and if thats going to be their attitude then I think I'll wait until I REALLY trust someone before I tell them. I feel like I'm storing up treasures inside me. I wonder how many treasures I can fit before I burst?

"Can I help you sir?" said the barman. "Yes, can I have one glass of that raspberry drink you sell?" I replied. "Sure" he said, as he promptly poured the beverage and asked "Anything else?" "Yes, and a glass of water please?" I replied. A wry smile silently erupted from the barman's poker-face and then, composed, he asked "Are you sure I can't put a little flavour in that for you son?" "No thanks" I replied. "How about some ice then?" said the barman. "Um, yeah, okay" I replied, and with the ice added I took one drink in each hand and headed straight for my mate who was vigorously thrusting away at the pool table. I gave him his drink - the raspberry - but he fumbled, splashing the unreservedly coloured drink on my brand new silk shirt! I turned around immediately towards the bathroom, but blundered directly into a waitress and three plates of steak! I quickly apologised and BAM!! I saw a vague silhouette of what might have been a pole. Everything was suddenly a lot darker, lacking the fermented odour of alcoholic drinks and the sound of chattering people. "Where am I?" I thought for a minute or two, or three or thirty - I couldn't tell. The next thing I knew, a ray of sunlight was gently beaming onto the tip of my nose, and the world around me was unfolding slowly before my eyes; from the green leaves that cozily nestled amongst the tree branches, down to every insignificant blade of grass, and to the dusty ground where I lay. Morning had come, I had regained consciousness, and a large mesh fence stood between me and my destiny.

People

2008-10-26T05:22:00.000-07:00

People

People goin to town
People walkin around
People sittin at home
People talkin aloud

People

People livin life
Some dreamin strife
People conjuring fortune
People stayin alive

People
People

In harmony?
At war?
Through thick and thin?
Or not at all?

People
People
People

People findin their way
People glancin my way
People greetin each other
People gettin through the day

Active?
Agitated?
Content?
Or cruely sedated?

People

People tellin stories
People lauding memories
People singin euphoria
And people dancin victories

People

Do they live, only to die?
Or will they ever again be willing to die so they can truely live?

A Question of the Cross

2008-09-12T07:59:00.000-07:00

The Cross - Funny bloopers are a click away

At Rest

2008-08-08T21:55:00.000-07:00

The resting of the dead
Its the ultimate rest
They say some burn in hell when they die
But it has also been said that all souls return to God, except the wicked are destroyed
I can't imagine not existing
I could imagine complete and total rest and relaxation, but not non-existence
To rest for a while is good
But after resting I'd want to be active
So if I should ever find myself not resting, and not existing
I'd hope I would awake from such a distasteful modality
And tell the world of all the wonderful immutable bounty they so lackadaisically set aside

My Cat

2008-07-29T05:04:00.000-07:00

He sits in his stance and excites in his slumber
What are cats for, but to sleep and to rumba
Dances in the morning, frolic in the evening
Time is like the wind, and he has long ceased endeavouring

Up he gets and around he turns
If you listen closely you will hear, his stomach churns!
But “Put it to rest”, he says after meal-time
Necessities will be provided again, and all is fine

Quiet and inconspicuous, and never far away
Is there a plan for this feline today?
A game in the sun, prey in the night
Construction is a thing of the past, and he just cries if dinner is not right

Solar Powered

2008-07-05T02:03:00.001-07:00

Reach out and save the nations from their dark abode
Tear apart the shrouds of fate and shatter every remnant

Pillars of luminous light, towers of consuming radiance
The wastelands cry for amnesty, and yet these life-springs saturate relentlessly

Where are the paths of dignity, and what has become of the highways of renown
Their foundations were entrenched deeply, but being exposed, guiltiness has incurred their revoke

Embolden the lowly, define the contours of every ridge and every valley
Vessels of both great and small are precious in your sight

Hear the resounding of a people bathed in the warmth of kinship
Smiling as you may, on your children day after day

The Way, The Truth, And The Life

2008-06-24T22:19:00.000-07:00

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6)

Over the years I've seen and heard the above bible verse quoted many many many times. To my dissatisfaction however, I believe it has been countlessly misunderstood and misused. Therefore, the following paragraphs have been dedicated to the revealing of the truth of this verse.

First of all, it has been widely assumed that Jesus taught his disciples to be solely dependent on him for teaching, guidance, and ultimately salvation. Such a mentality has been used to interpret - as well as defend - scriptures such as John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life", and Romans 10:13: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved", without giving thought to its consequences. From this perspective it certainly seems that all anyone will ever need is Jesus; he is the way, the truth, and the life, the answer to everything. Suffice to say, the entire Christian religion would seem to hinge on Jesus Christ dependency, and who among them could be any more the wiser, since their identity is hinged on the mores of a message that celebritizes Jesus Christ?

However, in this vein of Jesus dependency people soon loose sight of and neglect the virtues that even Jesus taught and exemplified, because the virtue that receives the majority of attention and admonition is 'depend on Jesus'. The importance of practical virtues such as sharing, courage, honesty, humility and perseverance are diminished under a shroud of simplistic 'magic bullet' dogma, and one of the most essential acquisitions available in life is pushed aside and treated like an old newspaper. This acquisition is wisdom, which demands every virtue to be embraced by its student. It is therefore little wonder that undiligent Christian folk would then dismiss the very notion of wisdom by quoting the apostle Paul: "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise" (1 Corinthians 1:27), misunderstanding wisdom to be a base element of sin or a principle of ungodliness. Such is the nature of wisdom and foolishness; the wisdom of the wise is but foolishness to a fool, and who can say what wisdom truly is?

Nevertheless wisdom rates pretty highly in my book - its up there with air - probably higher; for without it, people become gullible and turn to ways that lead to their own destruction. It has even been said by Solomon that "wisdom is the principal thing" (Proverbs 4:7), and Jesus said: "be ye therefore wise as serpents" (Matthew 10:16). In the book of Acts I read that the twelve apostles instructed the multitude of disciples to "look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom", who were then to be appointed over the business of serving the people, since widows were being neglected (Acts 6:3). Wisdom certainly is important, from practical service through to being a disciple of Jesus. Nowadays it seems that wisdom has become a neglected widow, and its deceased husband is salvation.

Real salvation, of course, is not dependency on Jesus, although some would say that Jesus is God, and that dependency on God is equivalent to salvation. However, to depend on God for food when you have a knife in one hand, a fork in the other, and a fully fledged meal sitting in front of you, is not going to save you from starvation. It would seem good and appropritate that a person should actively eat to prevent the disease of starvation. In the case that a person prays but neglects to eat, one would need to embrace some practical wisdom and be saved from his/her impractical dependency on God. Similarly, people - often unaware - fail to use their God-given nous when they embrace beliefs, and through their folly they starve themselves of salvation.

Now Jesus once said to his disciples "ye should do as I have done to you" (John 13:15). This was then echoed by saint Peter unto his audience, "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps (1 Peter 2:21), and also by saint Paul, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). Neither of these exhortations encourage dependency on Jesus, but rather, they encourage an imitation of the life and values exemplified by Jesus, to live a life in the same vein of excellence. In this light it becomes apparent that when Jesus said: "I am the way" (John 14:6), he meant that his life exemplified the way his disciples should live, "the truth" was literally self-evident, because the "life" that he lived was salvation, which was a light to others for the perpetuation of the same. Just as through Jesus' example the twelve disciples would come to real salvation, others could also come through their example.

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (John 13:34)

Just for fun

2008-04-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

I'm here listening to Linkin Park's album: Minutes to Midnight...

The first track started with crackles almost like a connection has been established but the medium is faulty or distorted, and sounds as if there's a message coming in from some place far away. Its been titled 'Awake'. The 'signal' then gets stronger and stronger as the instruments become more pronounced, and I feel as if this swelling instrumental symbolizes the awakening from a slumber.

Next I hear what sounds like an earnest clapping of hands. The high tempo beat kicks in, followed by semi-heavy distorted guitar and heart-pounding base. A lot of energy being exerted in this exclaimating synergy, definitely a handful of frustration, a taste of demoralization lingers, and its called: Given Up.

Then its 'Leave out all the rest'. A more easy rhythm and mood is offered. A deepness of soul-searching echoes throughout, and a glimmer of hope seems to seep from the sorrow of past failures. Touching.

We've got company! In a room of jeering folk and a point to be made of a present 'dirt'. A first-hand account is given in lyric while the chorus takes a 'this is what I'm doing' position, making a gritty proclamation. I'm not entirely sure what the issues at stake are, but there's certainly a concoction of weapons, war, death and senseless actions. Its called: Bleed it out.

Next is 'Shadow of the day'. An epic chorus.

I'm zoning out now - its 1:02am - so I'll stop analysing, and just enjoy the rest...

Direction

2008-03-08T11:13:00.000-08:00

I’ve seen a great evil, where the virtuous are no better than fools and hypocrites. They live life in a vein of purity, yet in apathy they remain loyal to strangers and simply keep the status quo. What a waste! Wouldn’t it be better to fully embrace one mode of life, enduring confrontation, rather than enact two that are contrary - lest one 'consume his own vomit'? Yet this would assume consciousness of such hypocrisy; but ignorance is often as present as prescription drugs.

So what’s the point of virtue then, if all you’re going to do is keep the status quo?

Shall we then consider an alternative, a revolution maybe?

I don’t think so. All a revolution is likely to do is shift the focus from one exploited way of life to another yet-to-be exploited way. The last thing a sick child needs is to look good.

So ‘Let em’ walk round in circles in the desert for a while’; let their ways be tested on the plateau of time, and let their hearts be refined as gold amidst the heat.

As for me, I don’t have an alibi - I was there.

And Then There Were Two

2008-03-03T01:14:00.000-08:00

Its not that skill does not or should not have a place and function in our lives; rather, greater emphasis should be placed on the things that are more enduring - like virtues.

It is certain that skill is no stranger to virtue though, as it requires discipline, patience and perseverance, and if we were to simply lax our minds and hands at the anticipation of what virtue may do for us, surely virtue would be vain!

As for inspiration, it is not necessarily any more virtuous than skill; for who will condemn a man for his decision to wait earnestly with desire for that which is more heavenly in nature, except he who has found virtue in immediate labour? Surely the prerogative is every individual's, and it is not a matter to be predisposed with wisdom - great or small.

Nevertheless, if we should participate in this life with virtuosity at the helm of our deeds, either by labour and skill or inspiration, there still remains - it seems - a recurring phenomenon; that is, that individual deeds conceived in virtue can still manifest as a collective evil. It is as though people can be like parts of a well-oiled engine, with all its parts functioning to a precise and virtuous sequence of motion, and then - as if without mercy - it is used to power a car in a drive-by shooting. The engine can hardly be held responsible for the fate of the victim/s, but clearly it was an accessory to the crime - even a necessity! So likewise, it seems that some deeds are not done through malice, but rather through means of virtue, and yet they still necessitate an outcome that emerges as evil.

An excellent example of this may be portrayed in Hitler: "I believe today that my conduct is in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator" (Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, Vol. 1 Chapter 2). And certainly a similar ideology was employed in the Christian crusades.

Therefore, I surmise that the manifestation of a virtuous deed is necessarily reliant on the deed's virtuous affect on others. It is the welfare of people (plural) that virtue is inseparably concerned with.

In The Beginning

2008-02-23T18:06:00.000-08:00

Well here I am, writing my first post on Blogger. I really wanted to say something amazingly grand and spectacular but it seems that such an accomplishment is beyond my power - especially when I consider how inspiration is more glorious than the finest skill.

Maybe it is true that there is more glory in the base elements of life, like the necessary virtues that guard us from extinction: respect for our neighbours, a commitment to growth, and a healthy fear of that which we cannot control.