not, at the Mall, on the Mall

Just remembered to check to see what movies are playing this summer for the annual Screen on the Green ,movies and mosquitoes, on the National Mall. The choices are O.K., but I kinda prefer comedies or musicals for this kinda event. Being a guy, I of course want to see the second selection, with the last one also being an easy choice (regardless of yer gender) . Maybe we can even get DC's latest transplant to come eat some of Orville Redenbacher's finest with us.

July 16 - Annie Hall (1977)

July 23 - The Thing (From Another World) (1951)

Jul 30 - Wait Until Dark (1967)

August 6 - All the Kings Men (1949)

August 13 - Casablanca (1942)

Trivia : 1)Name the movie the nice folks are watching above
2)Who plays "the Thing"? (and no hitting the link)

See ya at the movies
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Walking on Sunshine - Ghoti Hook

I love covers, I love Christian punk music (local kats from VA), and I love sunshine (so I guess I'll get on my bike and go for a ride)
Enjoy!

Hurricane Sims

"Wind engineers have created the world’s largest portable hurricane simulator, which they will use to blow over vacant buildings with Katrina-strength winds to test how they withstand the fierce forces of a hurricane." From an article I spied on Yahoo.

As a guy, I only have one question: How does I get me a job like dat!?!

"It blew down goood"
"huh huh, yeah, blew down reeeeeal good"

To be read, or not to be read?

I must confess that I have been a little excited lately by the increased visits my humble blog is getting, mainly do to some more prominent bloggers' mentioning yer monkster at their sites.

Before, I only had a couple of friends who were/are very loyal readers, or more importantly, very loyal supporters of the Monk (friends rawk!). I have to admit that knowing they read my ramblings, has 'caused me to stay away from certain subjects, or at least downplay others, as I am not a journalist (except, this is kind of a journal?), but someone who is trying to learn to write/communicate better, as well as airing out my over IQ'd noggin.

Now, with others reading, especially people I am coming to respect and admire, I find my self doing a bit more self censoring. I am not saying that in the PG vs. R rating kinda censoring, but in my choice of what I expose of my own failings.

Earlier this week, I wrote of how sad I was at the suicide of someone in my industry, but than omitted a paragraph where I wrote of my own attempts to give back this precious gift of life. I realized now how wrong that was, as while I am ashamed of those actions, I can now boast of the One who ripped those desires from my heart, replacing them with joy and a "peace that passes understanding".

My Jesus, please forgive me!

If I water down my past, do I dilute the power of the Gospel in my life? If I don't admit the prison I was once in, does this new freedom really mean anything? If I am afraid to speak of my oh so great sins, am I in fact saying I don't need/have a great Savior? (and Oh, my sins have been great, but He is Always, repeat, Always, greater still!).

The odd thing is that I have actually come to thank God for all the events of my past, as I pray that my trials may one day be a blessing to another ('cause "all things work for the good"). My brothers and sisters, I apologize for my omissions, as well as anything of a painful nature I may ever write about in the future, but my goal is to show the great work our Lord is doing in the life of this wacky ol' wannabe musical monk.

"Instead, speaking the truth in love,
we will in all things grow up into him
who is the Head, that is, Christ."
Ephesians 4:15

A Lil' Grouchy, but not exactly Groucho

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I just left this comment at my friend Frater's site, but as I've always been a little proud of it, I thought I'd mention it here. Although an actual event, it is also from a scene in a lil' comedic screenplay I have been working on for about a bazillion years.

Someone once said to me, after I had mentioned I was a Christian:
"ugh, the opiate of the masses !"
to which I replied "Karl Marx"
"Right" he happily answered
"No, I mean, isn't Marx the opiate of the masses?"
said I, with a grin.

Drink for the Thirsty : Monk tip #25:39

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It's gonna be HOT out there today, even hotter in other parts of the world. Keep an eye out for those who you could give a bottle of cool water too (also good to have Gatorade as a standby). The homeless person on the corner, someone working on your street, or maybe just your postman or delivery guy.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
Matthew 25

Choose Life - Big Tent Revival

Weekend vid, kinda relates to my last two posts.

"Every choice you make, is either making you
a little more like a heavenly creature, or a hellish one"
C.S. Lewis

Choose Life - Big Tent Revival

A choice is set before you now
living or dying, blessing or cursing
You know, the time has come around
to turn from your fighting
and rest in his mercy

chorus

Choose life, that you might live
the life that He gives
He gives you forever
Choose life, the way that it's true
from the one who chose you
your father in Heaven
Choose life

Trust the Lord with all your heart
all of your soul and all of your being
Hold on, listen and obey
surrender your life into His keeping

chorus

And the weight you're under
will be lifted away
And the world will wonder
what happened here today
then you'll stand right here and say

"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you
that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.
Now choose life, so that you and your children may live"
Deuteronomy 30:19

The Heavy Hearted Wannabe Monk

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Today was a rather sad day for me, even though it was a rather good one for my job/company. The owner of a minor competitor of ours, due to an upcoming bankruptcy, took his own life last week. All day today, I have been talking to his old customers, who now want to be our customers.

Over and over I had to listen to gossip about "why", and how sad it was, and then ask me "can I get the same discount?". I admit I never knew the man, and naturally I had always wanted to take all of his customers, but just because we were a better company.

Why did this happen?, why aren't we telling people how much they are loved?, why aren't we truly living in that love? Why the heck do I care if someone is Muslim or Jewish, Protestant or Catholic? 'cause He loves each of us the exact same amount! He won't love us more, He won't love us less....just perfect Love!

Anyway, the man's name is Consauri (cun-sar-e), and if you could please lift him, and his family, up in your prayers.....and while yer praying, please ask God if there is anyone in your life that you could be showing His love to.

Let us go out to love and serve . . .as we have been loved and served!
Peace be with you,
mike

Provision and Timing

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No, I am not gonna talk about my new car again, unless you really, really, want me too (O:

At Dawn Eden's blog, our lovely heroine is looking for a new DC location for the underground lair of the Dawn Patrol, but will take a room in a Vienna condo if she can find it. If any of my legions of readers (both of ya) know of anyone with a spare room, please give out a shout (although an e-mail might be better).

Her search reminded me of a beautifully painful time in my life where God's provision was demonstrated in the extreme.

When I was an atheist on my way to God, I was living with a wonderful woman who was not my wife , as even now I kinda think a non-religious wedding is silly. After becoming a Christian, the guilt of this 'caused a lot of emotions, and resulted in a rather severe depression. Because this wasn't the first time she witnessed dark empty Mike, she was naturally not overly excited about the prospect of getting married and having children with that guy (by the grace of God, that "Mike" has mostly been replaced by your monkster).

This went on for along time, with even an occasional talk about marriage (I am very happy to say, she is now married, and ready to pop out baby number one), until the painful decision to separate was finally made.

Beyond just the emotions of losing my best friend, there now was the other realities of life in DC to worry about, as single living around here is beyond expensive. I knew, with my job at the time, I could not afford to live here, and decided to move back to Baltimore. Now I had to find a job, and an apartment, and as Miss Dawn is finding out, it's stressful looking for a place, when you don't actually live there yet.

As our lease was coming to an end, and I was still no closer to finding anything, what was a depression, had turned borderline suicidal, as I just could not see anything on the horizon (but only because my eyes were on me, instead of Him). I remember a dark night in the empty house (she had already found a new place and moved out) where in tears, I called my loving God such names that you only hear on cable. When I was done, weeping on my knees, I said I was sorry, that I did trust Him, but I was just so freaking (not the real word I used) scared. Exhausted, I then fell asleep on the floor.

I started the next day as usual, by drinking my coffee while searching Baltimore's craigslist for apartments and jobs. For some reason, I thought to check out house sitting, and after only about a minute, staring in front of me was a 3 1/2 month rent free gig open in Baltimore, and the person was a Christian!. I remember how hard it was to wait until a decent hour to phone (it was about 6 am), but I did and made with the person the same day, with me moving in only a few days later.

The very Sunday I moved in, I spied a job opening, and interviewed the following day, and was hired immediately (I am great at what I do, but openings are generally scarce). On one of my first days, I met a part timer who also happened to be a Christian, and told me of a nice church around the corner from the job. A church, where I would end up being groomed for leadership, only a year later (until I started my walk towards Rome).

A free apartment, a new job, a new church, all in about a week. I still remind myself of this amazing blessing whenever things "appear" dark, and know that God will always provide me with what I need . . . Always!!!

There are a couple other blessings related to this. The first, is that while I still may get sad at times (last year completely s--ked!), I have not had a severe depression since.

The other is the wonderful grace that God gave me and my "gal pal", turning our romantic love into friendship, "eros" into "philia". Taking away my girlfriend, and giving me a sister. Praise God!

Things get dark, but there is always Light!

Ben Sherman Hair Shirts

Just kidding about Ben Sherman making designer follicle fabric, but I kinda liked the juxtaposition in a line of expensive (ie. overpriced) GQ-ish mortification attire (but I do like his regular line of shirts, and y'all have two months 'til the monkster' b'day)

"we import only the finest hairs in our new Musical Monk line of johnny collars, designed by modfather Paul Weller"

There is a clever little article over at mentalfloss on just this topic, and is it just me, or are ya getting itchy just thinking about it (O:

"The Gospels do not explain the Resurrection
the Resurrection explains the Gospels."
John S. Whale

"Just Keep Looking Forward"

."You'll be fine, just keep looking forward" was a friendly piece of advice I received yesterday, not from my spiritual director or friend from church, but from the compassionate toll taker at the Bay Bridge.

As I have written before, I have a slight problem with heights, one that seems to have increased with my age and waste line. Yesterday was my semi-annual trip over the William Preston Lane, Jr., Memorial Bridge (or Bay Bridge to us native folk), and as per usual, I was not overly excited. I prepared in my usual way, with a few prayers (o.k., a lot of prayers . . .and I may have run out of Saints and made up a few), a scripture verse("For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."), and had an appropriate song picked out for the 4 minute drive.

Luckily, the traffic was light, as usually when it's slow or backed up, so am I (if ya get my meaning).
The toll taker asked "How's yer day", to which I replied
"ask me on the way back"
"long drive? he asked
"No, I just don't like heights"
"You'll be fine, just keep looking forward" he said with a smile.

Again God answered my prayers, because the friendly advice of my brother at the toll booth was just what I needed (Proverbs 12:25). I smiled, said "God bless",and started my drive.

As I am the WW Musical Monk, I will share my crossing song choice with you, although it is not actually available, unless I make you a copy. Long before the amazing band Superchic[k] emerged (women, and friends with daughters, should own all of their CDs!), their leader/writer Max, had another band called Church of Rhythm, and the last known song they made public (through MP3.com, when it was free) was a little techno-pop piece of positiveness called "One Breath".

"We take one breath, Let it out

We take another minute somehow
Everything will work out to be just fine
we take life, five minutes at a time"

Overly deep?, who knows, (I'm from Baltimore, remember), but are they the words we all sometimes need to hear?, I think so.

I am thankful for the angels and saints who prayed for me yesterday, for the above mentioned song and it's writer, for God's instrument the Toll guy, and for my wonderful Lord who rides along with me everywhere I go . . . .and Who also has His loving hand on your shoulder too, as you read this.

Praise His name with one and every Breath!

“Then Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing,
why do you worry about the rest?’”Luke 12:22-26

Just Keep Looking Forward!

Hip Hop, Our God don't Stop!

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"Stop telling God how big your problems are
and start telling your problems how big your God is!"

Rev Run (of Run DMC)


yo yo yo, props to my homegirl Stephanie for sendin' dis out!

(jeepers, I am soooo not cool)
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Sucker Punches for the Soul

Father Larry Richards is one of my personal heroes, and to say he has helped this baby Catholic begin to walk steady, would be an understatement. He, by the grace of God, speaks with both an absolute directness and in complete love, with liberal amounts of humor as well.

Early on, even before I decided to start my inevitable walk towards Rome, a friend gave me one of Father Larry's audio CDs, entitled "the Truth" (you can hear it online, or get a free CD here). In this talk he addresses the basics of why we are here, who God is (Father,Son, and Holy Spirit), how much this God is in love with us, and how we should respond to that love (yeah, ya do hafta respond to it, ya know).

In the talk he mentions that one way we show love is by telling those we love, that we love them, which is easier said then done sometimes. I remember calling my dad after hearing the first time, and when my dad answers I just said "Hey dad, I just wanted to remind you that I love you, and I'm glad your my dad" which brought about a silent pause with my pop trying to figure out if I wanted money or something. "I love you too son" he replied, and that world "son" brought me to tears, because more than the "L" word, it represented that I belonged to him, and that he was proud of that.

Those of us who respond to God's love, are also His sons and daughters, and Fr. Larry makes a big point that we are to constantly remind each other of that important truth. That we truly "belong" to Him!

"For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out,
"Abba! Father!"

When I gave up music for my first Lent, I listened to a bunch of the Father's talks (free from the Mary Foundation, and they have other cool free talks as well). His talk on Confession greatly helped me prepare for my first/life confession, and his very graphic image of what sin is/does, is one I still visualize when tempted today.

On Monday or Tuesday morning, I can't wait to download his homily from the previous Sunday, as well as writing friends to comment on what he had to say this week. He pulls no punches in his talks, and that along with his PA farm boy accent (which sounds a bit like a cross between Baltimore and Chicago . . ."da Church, huh?"), is what I find so appealing. He sounds like your best friend, although one who sees your hand in the cookie jar, and reminds you that stealing is a sin. He doesn't care if you "like" him (as some priests do) and would much rather you get angry at him, but end up in heaven; than like him and live in hell.

If I do choose a religious vocation (or discern that God has designed me for that), I truly hope to serve with Father Larry one day. . . .or at least go to one of his retreats.

Catholic or not (yet), me thinks you will gain a lot from listening to any of the Fathers talks.

Oh, yeah, go and call yer dad up today, 'cause ya ain't gotta wait for Hallmark to tell you what day to say "I Love You"!

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My Bible Study pal, Sean, sent me this, along with a few others (I may post later), and living in DC, I found this extremely funny. I still remember as a kid, a "99 in the shade" August day, when the sign outside a nearby church read :

"If you think it's HOT here
Think of the alternative"
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