Let's try this. I have a blog at web.me.com/anthonymako

If you don't know that I love the Indians, Browns and Cavs, and no I am not talking about racial groups, then you have not met me. I love Cleveland Sports and I thought of something funny this morning. It is interesting that I could despise a person in Jamal Lewis so much while he was with the Ravens, the team that betrayed Cleveland Sports more than any other, and then like that man so much now. I found myself watching his interview on Sportscenter thinking how much I like this guy. Wierd. I guess that means if you are my friend and you start playing for any of the following teams: The Boston Red Sox, The New York Yankees, the Detroit Tigers, the Minnesota Twins, the Kansas City Royals (although I will probably have a severe amount of sympathy for you in the case of the royals), the Atlanta Braves, the Florida Marlins, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Baltimore Ravens, the Miami Heat, the Detroit Pistons, the Boston Celtics, the San Antonio Spurs, or any other teams that cross our path in the future, we will cease to be friends and become mortal enemies.
Also I think Randy Moss is a punk and I hope that Brandon McDonald has several chances to take care of him in the playoffs.
Lastly, I am not sure anyone should ever celebrate a one win season as much as the dolphins did yesterday. It looked like they just won a game to get into the playoffs. Not to mention(actually to mention) the fact that Jason Taylor said that he had been saying all along that they were going to win a game this season and they put him on Sportscenter saying it, so I say this because I am extremely bold. The Indians, Browns and Cavs will all win at least one game next season. Put me on Sportscenter, I'm a man, I'm 40!
Peace
My Johnson

I have this issue that is really bothering me and I tried to write about it, but I am just so unsettled by the thoughts and the actions of people that even as I write it out I don't feel like arguing any more. Really what is the point of taking a stance on something? Pride I imagine, is why for so long I have felt the need to stand. Well that isn't good I guess. I wish to speak with authority, not argue for the sake of winning, save the silly little arguments that I have to have for fun.
Peace
My Johnson

I have decided to try and post again, although since I have not posted in a year, I am sure that no one ever checks this save the miracle of rss I am sure that no one will ever read what I am writing, but perhaps I am fulfilling some hidden need to be the center of attention in some people's minds.

The video that I posted yesterday is from the service that I lead at Beavercreek Church of the Nazarene. There are more on youtube that I may post at some point. The audio is bad and you can hear Brandon talking in the background, but it was the best I could do, and since I have it I thought that I might as well put it out there.
The song that we ripped off is arranged by Lincoln Brewster, but it was written by Leonard Cohen. I think my favorite version is by Jeff Buckley. Lincoln Brewster redoes some of the words for the purpose of praise, but I spend a lot of time trying to figure out the original tone of the Cohen and Buckley versions. He speaks of David falling into temptation with the naked women bathing on the roof. Hmmm. I wonder who the genius was that decided to put baths indoors. Seems like I could have made some money on that. I like to think that I would be able to come up with that thought if I would have had the opportunity. Anyway... I can't figure out whether they are making fun of someone that can do what David did and then shout a Hallelujah to the Lord or whether they are celebrating the fact that although David royally screwed up he was still able to come before the Lord. I like to think that later, especially with the original line "its a cold and its a broken Hallelujah" I guess it could go either way. Perhaps they didn't understand the grace of God.
Peace
My Johnson

Another Hallelujah

CD and Concert Reviews

Apparently, I only have one post each month. I really don't know whether I will ever be better than that although I would like to be.
Well during my last post I mentioned that I would let you know what I thought of the new Sting album. I decided to buy it right after I posted, but ITunes pissed me off for a little bit, but those issues were resolved (THey really are pretty good about dealing with issues.) and now I got the album the next day. I was only mad because I was under the impression that with this new digital music era we would be able to get music as soon as we want. I am spoiled, I guess, but since I am spoiled I better get what I want when I want it. DIG?
OK so I have several quick reviews to post, 1 album and 2 concerts, so here they are:

1. The Sting album called "Songs from the Labyrinth" which is Sting and another dude doing the music of composer John Dowland, gets an ok from me. I read reviews that bashed it and I thought they were just being harsh because they were classical music snobs, but I found a lot of what they said to be true. The good thing about the album is that it takes great classical music to people that normally wouldnt give it a chance simply because they think they wouldnt like it. The negative thing about it is that Sting is not a classical person, so the listener just has to keep in mind that it is an interpretation of the music and they will be fine. I enjoy it. The best part about it is the song that I mentioned in the last post. Sting redoes "Fields of Gold" with a Lute, and it is very mellow and relaxing.

Concerts
2. Ok, so my original plan last weekend was to go catch the Chris Thile show in Ann Arbor on Friday night with Leah, Amy, and Jesse, because it is only a 3 hour drive and that is about as close as he is coming for a little while. Well of course I procrastinated being sure that I would get tickets at the door, but I found out Friday afternoon that it was sold out, so I really was very bummed. Seriously I had to have Leah just hold me for a little bit, and I was fairly depressed. I knew that he was going to be in Grand Rapids the next night, but I figured that it would be too far to drive (5.5 hours) and have to lead service the next day. So Saturday we woke up and I just sat around and debated all morning about whether to make the drive. Finally I decided at 2:30 that we should go (Show started at 8:30) becasue Amy said that they could all drive and I could sleep the whole way home. Here was the schedule that followed for the evening.
3:00- Depart Beavercreek
5:45- Stop in Ann Arbor to PP
6:00- Go to GR
8:28- Roll up to Calvin college and purchase tickets
8:31- Walk into the auditorium only one verse short of being on time to the show.

The show was incredible. I really dont know what to say. He is a genious. He played with his How to Grow a Band. He played songs from the new album along with some songs from his "Deciever" album, and one of the encore songs was a Radiohead cover. His voice is one of the purest male voices that I have ever heard, and he is a musical phenom along with being a master of the mandolin. His concerts are so relaxed and I will be honest and say that I shed a tear on more than one occasion during his set. His melodies are beautiful yet they are supported with very extensive chord progressions along with great contrapuntal writing. I could go on for hours.

10:30- Leave Calvin College
10:40- Stop to get dinner because we didnt have time to stop on the way down. We ate at some micro brewery and I had a house salad with grilled salmon on it. It was excellent.
11:45- Leave for home. I settled in the back and I started reading my book "Jaco" to get myself tired to fall asleep.
12:45- I feel the car swirving a bit and mention that Leah is either tired, or hammered. Now I know that we had just eaten at a micro brewery, but I also know that my wife did not partake at all because I watched he closely, so I knew that she was tired and the fact that everyone else in the car was asleep led me to believe that no one would want to drive, when asked they confirmed my suspicions. So I took over at the wheel.
4:45- We arrive at home with me at the wheel.
7:00- I awake to come prepare to lead worship
It was completely worth the trip. The concert was amazing.
I AM THE KING OF ROADTRIPS!!!!

3. Last night I went to the MuteMath show at the 20th century theatre in Cinci. I actually got in for free because Aaron and I (well I used to) know 3 of the guys in the band. The Whigs and Jonezetta opened for them. Those two bands were actually better than I thought they would be. I really enjoyed the Whigs mostly because it was just straight forward rock and roll. MuteMath's part of the show was really sweet. It was so much different than the Chris Thile show though. The Chris show was incredible and so many other words. The reason I liked the MuthMath show so much was because it was just a great rock and roll show. Darren the drummer is really the best musical part of the show. If you are looking for musicianship in their show, he is the one you look too. In my opinion, it was Rock and Roll meets stomp. A very rhythmic experience. Roy is also a very good bass player, but he is also rhythmic in his playing. It is basically the theme of their show. I enjoyed the experience very much. They have beautiful melodies and chord progressions, but they are not wowing, just enjoyable. They do, however do a great job of pumping you up. Paul's stage presence is great. He is constantly hopping all over the place.
I guess that is all for now. I have several concerts coming in the next couple weeks, so I will be back soon I am sure.
PEACE
MY JOHNSON

I really have been avoiding my second post because I have so many things to talk about that I didn't think I wanted to take the time to write them all out, but I realized I couldn't get away from wanting to talk about certain things, so here it goes in no particular order of importance.

I was watching TV last evening and I was a little disappointed with something that I saw. Apparently VW(which is second only to jeep in my opinion) has a new offer where they offer you a first act guitar with the purchase of a car. Why yes that is an incredibly idiotic idea, not to mention the fact that it is a first act which is the guitar that Walmart sells. Sure I could be upset that VW is passing out the worst quality instrument possible, but the fact that they got John Mayer of all people to sell out and support this outrageous idea.(He is on one of the commercials by the way). Sure if you are a beginner and all you can afford is this guitar that is fine, but if anyone chooses to buy this car because they want the free guitar that comes with it then they are simply dumb. Not to mention (well really it is more like, to mention because I am mentioning it) the fact that John Mayer does not play a first act, and he isnt even playing it in the commercial about getting the first act with the guitar. Advertising Sucks, and I am fairly upset with Mayer for selling out in this way.

Speaking of me watching TV last night, I love Studio 60. It is West Wing in the TV buisness, and I love West Wing, so natrually I would love Studio 60. I love Bradley Whitford. When I was watching it last night they had some awesome talk about Christianity, which I don't want to discuss I just thought I would bring up, how much they are not afraid to bring up the fact that we have this huge perception problem with Christianity in todays world, and I don't like the churches attitude that we shouldn't care what people think about us. Things like the 700 club and some of the stances that Dobson takes alienate us, and I am not so sure that it is actually a stance that Jesus would have. We need to care how the world views the church because, although it shouldnt be this way, people associate Christians with Christ. How dumb is that. So when we say and do things that make people reject Christianity they also feel that they have to reject Christ.

Also, Sting was on Studio 60 last night playing the lute, and promoting his new album called songs from the Labyrinth, which features the music of the 16th century composer, John Dowland. I havent heard the whole album yet, just the previews on ITUNES, but I have read a lot of bad reviews. I think that I am going to have to buy it and write my own review, becuase I think that those bad reviews were from a bunch of classical purists that are not open to a rock legend trying to sing classical style songs. They may have some good points, we will see. Ok I just bought it, beacause talking about it made me so curious. I will be back soon with my own review.
I think that is enough for now.
PEACE
MY JOHNSON