.......... .. .. ........... "Once In A While You Get Shown The Light In The Strangest Of Places If You Look At It Right" :Robert Hunter

All of the music recordings on this site are recordings of independent origin (ROIOs) Music that has not been officially released. If you are an artist or a legal representative of an artist and you do not want your ROIO shared on my site for free among your fans (and creating new fans), just tell me in the comment area and I will remove them. By the way these recordings exist. They won't go away. All of them can be found at various places on line. Sharing just keeps the fans that support the artists from having to get ripped off by purchasing them on auction sites, and it also introduces music to people who would never have known the artist, creating a stronger fan base.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

David Nelson Band 12-19-09


This is a free soundboard download released by the David Nelson Band for their fans. Very nice I must say.

David Nelson Band
Arena Theater
Point Arena, CA
12-19-09
David Nelson - guitar, voc
Barry Sless - guitar pedal steel
Pete Sears - bass, voc
John Molo - drums
Mookie Siegel - keys, voc

Set 1:
Fable of a Chosen One
Diamond Joe
Poor Old Dirt Farmer
Standing in the Doorway
Wicked Messenger >
Just a Season >
Suite at the Mission >
...Wicked Messenger

Set 2:
Earls' Girls Advice
Blue Christmas
Different World >
Rainmaker >
My Favorite Things >
...Rainmaker >
To Cut and Run >
Into the Mystic >
Kick in the Head
E: Box of Rain

Soundboard and Matrix - Tim Stiegler
Audience Recording - Dan Ward
Cover Artwork - Canyon DeMaio
Cover Layout - Mookie Siegel

CD artwork jewel case inserts included in the fileset.

This is a soundboard release by the David Nelson Band. If you like this music and
enjoy the band please feel free to share this music and let people know about
the David Nelson Band.
http://www.nelsonband.com/
vbr/Mp3
Download Link
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=1XS5F64O dnb2009-12-19.sbd.vbr_mp3.zip

All Religions 0r Beliefs Are Not The Same

Some one wrote in response to something I wrote. "It's EXACTLY the same crap the 911 terrorist were talking about, but with a SLIGHTLY different accent." I have heard people say that "All religions are basically the same and teach the same things and point to the same place". I have to disagree completely with this point of view. And I'll show you the major differences.
For starters Hindu faith teaches that the material world is an illusion, and sin is nothing more than the ignorance about the fact of this illusion. This is in conflict with the beliefs of most other faiths. In many Eastern beliefs God or the creator is thought to be impersonal (you can't get to know Him personally)and in some cases they believe that God is everything and everything is God. The belief of the Bible is that the world has objective reality and is not an illusion, and that sin is rebellion against a very real God that is separate and independent from His creation, and that He wants to redeem our broken relationship with Him. Many Eastern faiths believe in the idea of the transmigration of souls or continuous rebirth (reincarnations)until one reaches nirvana or eternal bliss. The Bible and Quran of Islam teach that each person has one physical life and one eternal soul or spirit and when we physically die we are then held accountable to God or the creator.
In most religions the view is you must do good so that you can go to heaven or do good to reach a higher place like nirvana. As an example Islam states you will have your life examined on a day of judgement and all men will be judged based on their good deeds. Sura 13:103-140 of the Quran states "they who balances shall be heavy shall be blest But they whose balances shall be light, they shall lose their soul, abiding in hell forever." This is like there is a scale that will tip in your favor or not depending on the weight of your good or bad works. In many Eastern religions there is the law or idea of karma which is like a measurement of good and bad energy that comes from you and you will be delivered to a higher place in the cycle of rebirth based on again your good works. In fact even some of the religions that have developed with time out of the Christian faith have gotten to a place of doing good deeds as a means to obtaining salvation.
In truth the Bible expressly states that our relationship to God is not based on anything that we do. The bible teaches that all men are imperfect and that imperfection causes separation from a holy or perfect and just God and that the righteous perfect and just God must have payment or restitution for the transgressions (justice). "The wages of sin is death" And the only way to not have to die for our transgression is to have someone else pay the price. And Jesus came to earth and lived a sinless life so He could pay the price for us. We do not deserve this we did not earn it because we are good (because no man is good enough). Jesus chose to die in our place and gives us this gift by grace alone. Now it is up to us to respond to His action by accepting this gift. In the other religions you take action by doing "good works" and expect God to respond to you. Most religion is mans way of drawing God to us. Christian faith is Gods way of drawing us to Him. Christian faith is about what God did not about what I did. Jesus died so I can live. Jesus body was broken so I may be healed. All I can do is respond to the undeserved gift of grace. This makes my relationship toward Him one with motivations of love and thanksgiving. Not one of me trying to control Gods response with an unrealistic expectation that I somehow deserve something form God. I don't want what I deserve (death).
Now one of the people who responded compared my faith to 911 terrorists in that the violence of the witch burning, and religious crusades, was akin to the Islamic terrorist violence. Let me say there is no comparison between these two faiths on issues of violence in the name of the ones we follow. Jesus taught love your neighbor as you love yourself and the cornerstone of faith in Jesus is that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that who ever believes in Him shall be saved. And we as believers in Jesus are asked to love others in this same sacrificial way. Jesus did not defend Himself and went to His death willingly. Anyone who kills another outside of self defence is no longer following what Jesus modeled. Mohammad by his actions of a violet and forceful invasion and takeover of Mecca it appears to me models something different for those who follow him even though the Quran apparently teaches that to take life is wrong.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Freedom With No Limits

Does this stop sign restrict your freedom? Think about it. You have to stop. . . .Or do you? you are free to just blow right through it if you want. But there might be some consequences. Does this speed limit sign restrict your freedom? Again you can choose to just go at what ever speed you want, but again there might be some cosequenses for your choice, like a car accident or even loss of your drivers licence or other freedoms.

I have heard some people say, “I would follow God but it will limit my freedom too much.”

Freedom with guidelines and boundaries doesn’t seem much like freedom to us. I once went to a car race called the Long Beach Grand Prix. They told me I could view the race from wherever I wanted to, but they wouldn’t let me out on the track. They had these barriers and fences that limited my access. Another time I was out hiking and there was this fenced pasture with cattle. On the fence there was a sign that said keep out but it was a long way around so I wanted to jump the fence and go straight through.

Our every day lives are already full of rules and regulations (like the laws that control the way we drive a car) that limit us even before adding God’s rules to our lives.

Do you think God wants to limit your freedom?

Unlike today Adam and Eve didn’t have to worry about very many rules, laws, or regulations. In the Garden Of Eden God only had one rule for them to obey. Genesis 2:16-17. And the Lord God commanded the man saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat.” What can we learn about God’s desire for us from this?

First, contrary to what you might think God is not hung up on rules. In the world God made and the way He wanted it to be, there was only just one “thou shalt not”. This one rule was to establish God’s authority, because He knew we would have the most freedom possible with God in charge.

Second, God gave men the ability and freedom to do what ever they wanted within the very loose guidelines He established. It was not the freedom to do whatever they wanted without consequences (it was close). That type of freedom does not exist and never has.

Third, sin and not God is what took away peoples freedom. Satan lied to Eve and then Adam and Eve fell for the lie. It is still this way today. When Adam and Eve tried to do their will instead of God’s will they lost freedom instead of gaining it.

They lost the freedom to live in the Garden of Eden.
They lost the freedom to walk with God.
They lost the freedom from shame, guilt, fear, and pain.
They lost the freedom from sickness and death.
They lost the freedom that came from having right relationship with each other.
They lost the freedom that came from having a right relatonship with the earth.

Every day Satan is offering us the same lie that Eve fell for, “the most freedom is found outside the boundaries.”
People will tell you, “You are missing out” or “try it just once.” We are tempted by the same old lie, a promise of freedom to do whatever we want with no consequences. There is no such freedom and there never has been.

As we get farther from obedience to God’s will, or farther from the Garden of Eden, the less freedom we have. Ask an older person if they had to lock their doors when they were young.

God desires us to have the most freedom possible without getting hurt. For this reason He established limits to provide for and protect our freedom.

God, through Jesus Christ, still lets us be free to make our own choice. We are free to choose between.
God’s will or Our own will
Everlasting life or Death
Righteousness or Sin
God’s protection or Doing it on your own

Let’s get back to the car race. As I watched the race a car lost control and crashed into the barrier and fence and I suddenly looked at the fence differently. Instead of limiting my freedom it was protecting me from harm. On the hike I chose to jump the fence. About half way across the pasture a large bull saw me and decided I was a threat. He came at me aggressively and I ran for the fence. When I got to the other side of the fence I looked at the fence in a new way. Instead of an obstacle limiting my freedom the fence was protecting me from the angry bull.

The funny thing is, in the end often the very things that appear to restrict our freedom are the same things that protect us from harm and in some cases loosing freedoms. The things that appear to take away our freedom may be the things that can protect our fredom and in some cases save our lives.

God tells us things to protect us and our freedom, and to help our lives be the best they can be, not to limit us. God has more knowledge and wisdom than we will ever have, so He has the ability to protect us from danger that we might not understand or see. God does this throught His word the Bible. You see just like the street signs help us keep the car on the road and not in a ditch, the bible helps us keep our lives out of the ditch or from being a major accident.
Just like street signs the Bible can show us which way to turn, or or help keep us from making a wrong turn when we should go straight. Proverbs 4:27, Turn not to the right or the left, remove thy foot from evil



















And the bible can help us to not go in the wrong direction . 1 Timothy 3:5, Having a form of godliness but denying the power therof: from such turn awayAnd where to find spiritual rest. Matthew 11:28-29, Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" And the bible can show us where to get spiritual food. John 6:27, Do not laborfor food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life which the Son of Man will give to you. And it helps keep us from going down a path to spiritual death. Proverbs 14:12, There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end there of are the ways of death. and Proverbs 14 fear of the Lord is a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death.

And the Bible warns us that we are flamable! Revelation 20:15, Anyone not found written in the Book Of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire. And Revelation 21:8, Unbeliving, abominable, murderers, sexualy imoral, sorcerers, idoloters, and liars shall all have their part in the lake which burns with fire which is the second death.
The good news is when we choose to follow Jesus the Holy Spirit comes into our lives as a helper and is our guide instead of the law. Also the bondage of our sin is gone because the price has been paid. In John 8:36 Jesus said. If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Derek Trucks Band with Jimmy Herring and Phil Lesh, 5-27-2000


Derek Trucks Band
Mountain Aire 2000
Calaveras County Fairgrounds
Angel's Camp, California
May 27, 2000
Soundboard

Special Guests:
Jimmy Herring
Phil Lesh
CD 1:
crowd/ intro, Rasta Man Chant
Yield Not, Bock To Bock
Feel So Bad, intros
Kickin' Bach*
Everything Is Everything*

CD 2:
Chicken Strut*, Preachin' Blues*
Mr PC*, Ain't That Lovin' You*
Band Inros and guest intros
Egg 15*#, Outro

*w/Jimmy Herring on guitar
#w/Phil Lesh on bass
Mp3/vbr

Download Links
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LDJYZ8NH dtb2000-05-27.dsbd, vbr_mp3.zip

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Evolution is NOT Science

A recent message left on a post said this “Your statements summing up all too simply the vast amount of science that stands behind brilliant insights such as evolution frustrates me beyond rational words.” Well I don’t claim to be a science blog but I would like to address the validity of this statement when it claims vast amount of science standing behind evolution and if evolution really is a brilliant insight.
First let me point out that there has always been a group of highly distinguished scientists, with impressive credentials and no religious motivations, who have never conceded that evolution has been proved. This is an inconvenient truth for evolutionists who would like to dismiss their opponents as Bible-thumping hicks and claim that questioning evolution is tantamount to questioning the value or validity of science.
The first big problem with evolution is that the fossil record increasingly does not support it, if viewed honestly, a fact that famous Prof. Steven Jay Gould of Harvard has described as "the trade secret of paleontology." Evolutionary theory claims that there once existed a whole line of successive forms of the various organisms alive today. These supposedly changed by very small amounts with each generation as they evolved or changed into the present organisms. Fossil records should show these gradual changes, but they don’t. Instead, they show the emergence of new species out of nowhere, fully complete with all their characteristics and not changing over time. It is almost entirely devoid of forms that can plausibly be identified as intermediates between older and newer ones. This is popularly known as the "missing link" problem, and it the problem is seen across different species and time periods. This problem is getting worse, not better, as more fossils are discovered, and as the new fossils just resemble those already found and don’t fill in the gaps. In Darwin's day, it was easy to claim that the fossils were there but had not been discovered. Problem is, we now have hundreds of thousands of well-catalogued fossils, from all continents and geologic eras, and we still haven't found these intermediate forms. The quantity, quality, and range of the recovered fossils is impeccable. But the more we dig, the more we keep finding the same forms over and over again, never the intermediates. Darwin himself recognized this grave difficulty in his theory and devoted a whole chapter in The Origin of Species to it. Darwin admitted the glaring lack of intermediate types in the fossil record to be "the most obvious and serious objection which can be urged against [my] theory." It still is obvious but with new discoveries it no longer is the most serious.
The usual response of evolutionists at this stage in the argument is a theory they call punctuated equilibrium, Gould’s great contribution, which basically says that evolution occurs not gradually but in spurts. This would explain why there are gaps and not continuity in the fossil record. The problem with this theory, which is so complex (if you can’t make simple sense then confuse them), is in explains away the non-existence of small gradations, it still requires there to be large ones (the individual spurts) and these aren't in the record. Also, for punctuated equilibrium to have occurred, a precise set of conditions would have to be obtained throughout the entire past period represented in the fossils, and this is unlikely and not science.
Another development that has undermined evolution is the use of computers in evolutionary biology. Computers have shown that the evolutionary trees that get drawn up in our kids biology books are in fact based on imaginary relations of observed similarity and difference that owe more to peoples tendency to perceive patterns than to the real biological data. Computers show that when the characteristics of different living things are encoded in numerical form and the computer is asked to sort them into The order of nucleotides in a DNA or RNA molecule, or the order of amino acids in a protein molecule.sequences based on their similarities and differences, the computer can find any number of ways of doing so that have just as much support in the data as those drawn up by humans to fit an evolutionary tree. The data say "no evolution" just as loudly as they say "evolution"; it’s just the pattern-craving human mind that gives prominence to the former way of viewing it. This is known as phenetic analysis. When the computer is constrained to push the data into an evolutionary tree, (this is called cladistic analysis) it tends to generate trees with all species as individual twigs and no species forming the crucial lower branches of the tree that evolution demands. As a result of this, many biologists have in practice stopped using the idea of ancestors and descendants when classifying new species. When the British Museum of Natural History did this a few years ago, they started a small war in scientific circles.
Here is another problem true science gives to the theory of Evolution. It has to do with the order of nucleotides in a DNA or RNA molecule, or the order of amino acids in a protein molecule. Sequences which look logical based on the progression of one set of anatomical characteristics suddenly look illogical when attention is switched to another set. For example, the lungfish superficially seems to make a good intermediate between fish and amphibian, until one examines the rest of its internal organs, which are not intermediate in character, nor are the ways in which its eggs develop. And if different species have common ancestors, it would be reasonable to expect that similar structures in the different species be specified in similar ways in their Deoxyribonucleic acid: the chemical inside the nucleus of a cell that carries the genetic instructions for making living organisms.DNA and develop in similar ways in their embryos; this is frequently not so. So evolutionary relationships depend upon an arbitrary choice of which characteristics of the organisms in question are considered most important, and different relationships can be "proved" at will.
The classic cases printed in biology textbooks to show the evolution of present-day organisms from their supposed ancestors are in fact downright false. We read the same examples coming up again and again in textbook after textbook because there are only a few species for which there is even a remotely plausible fossil genealogy can found in the over 100,000 fossil species known to paleontology. The horse as an example you will find that several of the standard claims about the pattern of equine evolution, such as the gradual reduction of the side toes, are extremely questionable and that the morphological distance covered from the earliest horse to the present horses is so small, compared with the vast changes that evolution must encompass, that it is questionable and hardly fact but just speculation or not science. In fact when we try to talk about observable science evolutionists tell us we cannot see evolution taking place because it happens too slowly. A human generation takes about 20 years from birth to parenthood. They say it took tens of thousands of generations to form man from a common ancestor with the ape, from populations of only hundreds or thousands. However we do not have these problems with bacteria. A new generation of bacteria grows in as short as 12 minutes or up to 24 hours or more, depending on the type of bacteria and the environment, but typically 20 minutes to a few hours. There is much variation in bacteria. There are many mutations (in fact, evolutionists say that smaller organisms have a faster mutation rate than larger ones) but they never turn into anything new they always stay bacteria. Fruit flies are much more complex than already fantastically complex single-cell bacteria. Scientists like to study them because a generation (from egg to adult) takes only 9 days. In the lab, fruit flies are studied under every conceivable condition. There is much variation in fruit flies. There are many mutations. But again they never turn into anything new, they always remain fruit flies. Many years of study of countless generations of bacteria and fruit flies all over the world shows that evolution is not happening today. The truth is this the emergence of one species from another has never been directly observed by science.
Another huge problem with evolution that continues to get bigger as we gain more knowledge is that it remains incapable of explaining how anything could evolve that doesn't make biological sense when incomplete. The wings of birds are the classic example: what good is half of one? Other examples are endless. This is a problem that evolutionary theory has promised a solution to for a long time and has not and cannot give us. Even more disturbing than visible examples like wings are the complex chemical reactions and molecular structures that living things are made of. As we discover more we find that many of the micro-processes in a cell make sense either complete or not at all. There are no plausible accounts of how they could have evolved from other simpler processes because as one hypothesizes backwards down the chain of complexity, one comes to a point at which the process just won’t work if it gets any simpler. At this stage, the process could not have evolved from anything else because there is nothing simpler for it to have evolved from. And at this stage, the process is still far too complex to have been thrown together by any known non-living chemical event. At one time, knowledge of the complex processes of living things was limited enough, and hopes for the discovery of intermediate processes that they could have evolved from wide-open enough, that evolutionists could ignore this problem. But as biological knowledge has progressed, evolution theory has to confront more inconvenient facts. And we find that research is consistently making the problem for evolution worse, not better.
Another inconvenient scientific fact for the evolution myth that has happened since evolution was first proposed is that biology has achieved a precise cataloging of the thousands of different Organic compounds made of amino acids arranged in a linear chain, joined together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of the adjacent amino acid residues, and proteins that make up organisms. It was hoped that a thorough cross-species comparison of these would reveal the kinds of relationships of graded similarity that evolution implies. But it has not. Instead, it has given the same picture of distinct species with no links or evolutionary tree. And analysis of the closeness and distance between different species reveals results that refute evolution. According to the order of nucleotides in a DNA or RNA molecule, or the order of amino acids in a protein molecule sequence when it comes to Protein Structure and Function, man is as close to a lamprey as we are fish! This problem repeats itself with other characteristics of organisms that have been brought within the scope of evolutionary comparison since Darwin’s day.
As if this is not enough well here is another problem for the evolution theory that has increased with increasing biological knowledge, the question of how life initially emerged from non life. As recently as the early 50's, it was still possible to hope that discoveries would reveal the existence of some intermediate between single-celled organisms and complex lifeless molecules. The existence of these(certain kinds of viruses were candidates for the role) would imply the possibility of an evolutionary transition from dead chemicals to intermediates to life. But the discovery of Deoxyribonucleic acid: the chemical inside the nucleus of a cell that carries the genetic instructions for making living organisms.DNA in 1953 killed this hypothesis (desperate stab in the dark) in its simplest form, and subsequent discoveries have only made the matter worse. Vast numbers of microorganisms are now known, as are vast numbers of complex molecules, but nothing can be found in between. The simplest possible cell imaginable within the limits of biology, let alone the simplest actually existing cell, is far too complex to have been thrown together by any known non-living chemical event. So even if evolution has an explanation of how species evolve from one to another, it has no way to "get the ball rolling" by producing the first species from non life. Evolution plain and simple is not science. Cells are made of proteins, and everything that goes on in a creature involves proteins interacting with each other. Proteins are generally 50 to 2000 amino acids long; a typical one has about 300 amino acids. Ribosomes are molecular machines that build proteins in all cells, using messenger RNA as the template. Here is an overview of how a bacterial ribosome "translates" RNA into protein. Every protein in bacteria is made this way. (yea that just happened on it's own)

Questioning whether evolution is a science at all is not a stretch at all, because its assertions are not potentially falsifiable. A true science, like physics, makes claims that can be tested and thus potentially falsified; this vulnerability is what makes it worthy of belief when despite this, the falsification does not happen. But evolution does not make claims of this kind because it can’t. One of the things that makes for good science is that it is based on repeatable experiments. The data used to support evolution are neither experiments nor repeatable, nor can they be, since the origin of species on earth was a unique event. This doesn’t necessarily make evolution nonsense, but it strongly suggests it doesn’t have the right to demand a place at the science table with physics, chemistry, or molecular biology. In fact on the strength of its being straightforwardly a science as I said before Evolution is not science and science proves it to be highly unlikely.
Anyone who doubts that the bulk of the scientific community could be wrong about a fundamental question like this should consider the case of Newtonian physics, which was thought to be unshakable until Einstein disproved it. (Lest anybody quibble about the approximate validity of Newtonian physics at non-relativistic speeds, may I point out that Newtonian physics was formerly thought to be valid at all speeds, throughout the universe, and this Einstein refuted.) Evolution may not a fraud being perpetrated upon the public, but it is a theory that has far too many problems to be treated as something that everyone is obliged to believe in on pain of being classified as a fool. As the credibility of evolution continues to wane with additional developments in biology the absolute of solving this intellectual puzzle should be free for debate. I am quite happy to change my position if new facts come out, and I urge my readers that this is the only rational view to have.
If I were to place seven sticks on the ground parallel to each other on a trail in the woods and you came upon them what conclusion would a rational thinking person have. They would easily deduce that someone put them there. If I show you a car or a wrist watch and ask you how it came to be you would of course say that it was manufactured or created. But if I show you the incredible complexity of a cell and it’s workings and the amazing complexity of a human eye and the even more complex makings of a entire human you deduce it was random chance.

Still not convinced? Try this one take special note of DNA structure and folding (if it folds wrong it will not function as it should. http://www.newgeology.us/presentation32.html

A protein is not just a long string of amino acids strung together from the DNA pattern. it folds itself together into a complex 3D structure that is important for it's function. Would we say this origami bird could make it's self? Yet the most simple building block of all infinitely complex life is far more complex and we think it is random chance.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Backpacking Big Pine Creek, Eastern High Sierra

I know this blog is called Arizona Jones and much of the outdoor stuff is from Arizona. But Arizona Jones is me and not a place so I will give you outdoor adventures that impacted me. Such as the Lake Ediza backpack story. So here is another Eastern Sierra trip that I found to be amazing. It is to The North Fork of Big Pine Creek in the John Muir Wilderness.
This trip is to a valley nestled high in the Eastern Sierras at the base of some of the highest peaks in the entire Sierra Nevada range. These peaks are just shy of the height of Mt. Whitney. The basin contains at least eight lakes and some fantastic scenery and is also the site of the southern most glacier in the United States, the Palisade Glacier. This trip starts at a parking area just 1/2 mile east of Glacier Lodge (a good place to get a shower once you return). The trailhead that you start at is at 7,750 feet and you take the North Fork Trail from there. The trail at first heads west along a south facing ridge with sage brush, and bitter brush with just a few pines. There is heavy exposure to the sun and little shade so get an early start. The climb at first is moderate and the trail is well maintained. As you climb you have great views across the valley to the Middle Palisades (14,040) and the valley of the South Fork of Big Pine Creek. After only a mile the trail turns northwest and you come to a nice sized waterfall called First Falls. At 1.6 miles from the trailhead there is a trail intersection. The right or northeast direction takes you steeply up to Baker Creek, the left trail descends down to a picnic area at the end of the road, and the middle is the North Fork Trail and what you want. Soon after you will pass a second water fall called Second Falls.
The trail does a few switch backs and then parallels the North Fork and you start having more abundant tree cover. This is a welcome relief from the sun exposure. Soon you reach an more lushly vegetated area with some aspens called Cienega Mirth where you will see a stone cabin that was built by the movie star Lon Chaney three miles from the trailhead. You are now at 9,220 ft. elevation and have climbed 1420 feet in three miles. After this the trail climbs some more and First Lake comes into view along with towering and rugged looking Temple Crag. First Lake is around 4.5 miles from the trailhead and is at 9,900 ft elevation. Near here, there is a trail junction and a trail cuts off to the right and steeply climbs switchbacks up an exposed ridge to Black Lake at 10,625 foot elevation. I took this route and returned back down the North Fork Trail making a loop trip. As you climb up the Black Lake trail you have amazing views across the valley at First and Second lakes and the Palisade Crest.
We camped at Black Lake our first night and were pretty happy. We had this lake all to our selves and the view across the lake to the Palisade Crest is great. Trout are abundant in this lake and the water comes alive with jumping fish at twilight. We thought this lake was pretty nice and would have been happy if this was our destination. But the next day we found that this valley has so much more to offer. The next day we headed farther west and climbed over a ridge and after about a mile or so we came to beautiful Fourth Lake (10,750 ft). Fourth Lake has really great views of the very impressive Palisade Crest mountain group of Temple Crag (13,000), Mount Sill (14,162), North Palisade (14,242) Thunderbolt Peak (14,000), Mount Winchell(13,768), and Mount Agassiz (13,891), The lake is a centrally located lake and and there is a four way trail junction near it that leads north to Sixth Lake (11,090 ft.)and Seventh Lake (11,210 ft.) or West to Fifth Lake (10,750 ft.), south back down North Fork Trail to Third Lake (10,400 ft.), Second Lake (10,000 ft.), and First Lake or back east to Black Lake. We took the north pointing trail around the west side of Fourth Lake up to Sixth and Seventh Lakes and explored for the day. Sixth and Seventh Lakes are up high in a bowl at the end of the valley. And the trees are smaller and stunted as you are above 11,000 feet and almost above tree line. and just west of them are some impressive mountains. One is called Cloud Ripper and is 13,501 feet tall. After exploring these two lakes we ending up finding our way back down an unnamed trail to Fifth Lake were we camped for the night. This lake is magnificent with an amazing blue color. This photo below is as we were coming down to Fifth Lake from Sixth Lake
Fifth lake is 6.5 miles from the trailhead if you come directly up North Fork Trail. Seventh Lake is about 8 miles from the trailhead. That evening we saw this amazing spectacle as the sun went down some of the peaks were just glowing. I think the term for this phenomena is "alpenglow". I knew then why Ansel Adams called the Sierra Nevada the "Range of Light".
The next morning we woke early to explore some more and found that on the trail between Fourth Lake and Third Lake (about a half mile above Third Lake) is a trail that takes you south and up steep switchbacks to a meadow called Sam Mack Meadow (seen below). This was amazing place above the tree line where there was only short grass. Here the water was coming right out of snow pack and waterfalls were numerous forming a beautiful blue stream. This trail continues to climb even higher over a bare rock ridge up to the Palisade Glacier. This glacier photo is the only one that I did not take but I felt you should get a good glimpse of it so I tracked this photo down. The Palisade Glacier is at 12,400 feet and is around 9.0 miles from the trail head. I could have spent several more days exploring this valley and not ever tired of the spectacular scenery. On our return we went back by the route of the North Fork Trail and took our time stopping at Third Lake, then Second Lake, and finally First lake as we traveled back down the valley.
Whoever named these lakes was not very creative. These three lakes below the glacier have amazing colored water from the glacier melt and great vistas of rugged Temple Crag and the Palisade Crest. This lake basin is just a great place to explore yet it is relatively easy to get to and a short hike for Sierra Nevada standards with very big payoffs. And if you want more and are an experienced outdoors type there is a faint trail above Seventh Lake that climbs north above the lake to a gap and then drops you down into Thunder and Lightning Lake and you could return by the Baker Creek Trail making a close to 20 mile loop trip. If you like to fish, most of the lakes in this basin have trout and the upper ones are said to have Goldens.
To camp overnight you need to obtain permits that I you can obtain on line from the forest service. Entry to the North Fork of Big Pine Creek is limited to twenty five people per day. Wilderness permits may be reserved or obtained on a walk-in basis also. In most areas, 60% of the space may be reserved in advance; the remaining 40% of space is set aside for visitors who come to the area without reservations. When traveling overnight in the Sierras you should store all your food in bear canisters for safety. I never saw any bears however.
For More Information
White Mountain Ranger Station,
798 N. Main St. Bishop CA, 93514
(760) 873 2400
or go online to:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/wild/howto.shtml
Big Pine Creek is located near Big Pine, California. To get to the trail headtrailhead you turn off of HWY. 395, west on Crocker Street in Big Pine and continue about 11 miles up into the mountains to the trailhead parking lot on the right. If you get to Glacier Lodge you passed it by a half mile.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

20,000 hits on my blog in the first 43 days

When I started this thing 43 days ago I was not sure if anyone would even find it. It has averaged over 450 visits a day. I'm surprised. Thanks to all who have helped (Dino the Tunzmaster, Speedy, Asso) get it started. Thanks for the encouragement from those who have left messages. I guess It's a good thing I did not throw out those old boxes of tapes. I hope people have found some value in the music, photos, or the spiritual pontifications.

Monday, August 16, 2010

GOLDEN CALF or Who Molds Who?

Sometimes we don’t want to go to church or read and follow God’s word or do God’s work because it isn’t easy or convenient.
So we pick a church because it is close to us or at a convenient time, instead of because it is filled with God’s spirit. Or we pick a church because we like the music and the sermons do not make us uncomfortable, instead of choosing one that pushes us to grow in Christ and do God’s work. We tend to read the bible only when it fits our schedule or we don’t read it at all because it’s not convenient. We tend to do God’s work only when it doesn’t get in the way of what we want to do.
Here is an example of someone who chose to follow and worship God in the time and way he wanted and do his will instead of God’s. His name is King Jeroboam

1Kings 12:28-31. The King made two calves of gold and said to the people, it is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem, here are your gods who brought you up from Egypt, and he set up one in Bethel and the other in Dan. He made shrines in the high places and made high priests of every class of people, not of the sons of Levi.
When you make a gold calf you melt the gold and pour it into a mold.
The mold shapes the gold into a desired shape.
When we worship idols then we are worshiping something that we choose the form or shape of what we are worshiping.

Jeroboam is saying it is too much or too far to go to Jerusalem. He is saying worship God in this new way because God’s way of doing it is too difficult and is not convenient.
He is making up his own religion one of convenience.
Today many people make up their own religion or belief system. They say I’ll believe some of what the bible says is true, and some of Buddhist teaching, and some of this other stuff. So they take the parts that fit into the type of life they want and make up their own “truth”.
When we do this we are saying to God, “I am the one who decides what truth is.”
In reality things are either true or not. What we believe doesn’t change truth. If I believe I can fly it doesn’t make me fly. The truth is that if I jump off a building I fall just like anyone who believes they can’t fly. God has decided what is true and it won’t change because you don’t believe it. When we try to decide truth we are placing ourselves in God’s role in our life. This is idol worship.
When you make up you own style of worshiping or your own belief system that fits into your life, it is a religion of convenience. You are trying to mold God to fit into your life, instead of letting God mold you to fit his needs.

You see God has made us for a purpose and until you let God mold or shape you your full potential and purpose in life will not be reached. It says in Isaiah 64:8 Lord you are our Father. We are the clay and you are the potter, and we are the work of your hand. Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground. We are to be clay in His hands; He is not to be clay in our hands. So what does the bible say about rebellion of the “clay” toward the Maker? In Isaiah 30:14 it says those who don’t hear God’s word will be, “suddenly broken like a potter’s vessel, into very small pieces.” In Isaiah 45:9 it says, Woe to him who strives with his maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to Him who forms it, what are you making? Or shall your handiwork say You have no hands?
Here is what happened to Jeroboam’s people. 2 kings 17:16 So they left the commandments of the Lord their God, made for themselves a molded image of two gold calves. 2 Kings 17:18 Therefore the Lord was angry with Israel and removed them from sight. 2 Kings 17:23 Israel was carried away from their own land to Assyria.
They were put into slavery or bondage. They lost freedom!
In Exodus 32:8-9, 10 the people of Israel break the covenant with God and God said “They have turned away quickly out of the way which I have commanded them, they have made a molded calf and worshiped it.” “They are a stiff necked people!” “My wrath may burn hot against them.” As a result God had Moses punished the people (3000 people fell that day) and the tabernacle of God was moved out of the camp, this represents separation from God.
It says in Acts 17:29 We ought not to think that the Devine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. And in Romans 9:20 says, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to Him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” Does the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and one for dishonor?
Romans 8:28, 29 Says this about what plans God has for us and the form or image He wants to mold us into. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.
Believers are to be conformed into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ!
2 Corinthians 3:18 We all with a veiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as the spirit of the Lord.
No mater what we think God molds and shapes us, we don’t shape God. He will make us a vessel of honor (the image of his Son) or a vessel of dishonor. It’s up to us to place ourselves in his hands or to rebel against the Maker.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Goodbye Richie Hayward, You Will Be Missed

Richie Hayward, Little Feat Drummer, has passed away at the age of 64. He was suffering from liver cancer. Richie Hayward was a founding member of Little Feat. Apart from being a drummer, Richie was also a part time actor. His small role in the 60s TV comedy F Troop is still liked. Richie Hayward was a session musician too featuring on records for Eric Clapton, Ry Cooder, The Doobie Brothers, Robert Palmer, Warren Zeveon, Tom Waits, Robert Plant and Bob Seger over the years.
Richie had said that he intended to come back the moment he got physically stable. But apparently God has other plans for Richie and he died on Thursday 12th August 2010. Goodbye Richie we will miss you!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Who Is This Jesus?


Jesus Christ is the most influential person to ever walk on this planet. In just three years in the public eye he changed the world we live in forever. He is so influential that we now gauge time by weather something came before or after Him. When I talk to people about Jesus many will say that they follow His teachings or that they believe in what He stands for but when I ask them who He is they give a wide variety of answers. Some will say Jesus is a great teacher, others say Jesus was a very moral man, some say He is a prophet of God, some say He is an enlightened being, and some even say He is an angel of God. So who really was Jesus? To find out I feel you need to look at what people that knew Him say about Him, what He said about Himself, and what His actions say about who He is.
The people that know the most about Him are the ones who spent the most time with Him. There were twelve men that spent almost three years with Him. What do they say about who Jesus is? The Apostle John wrote in John 1 in reference to Jesus “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. Through Him all things were made. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” Well that statement is a pretty big claim. It says Jesus was there in the beginning of time, that through Him all things were made, and that Jesus was with God and is God. This is a bold claim. Maybe John has it wrong. So what does another of the disciple say about Jesus? In Matthew 8 we have Jesus asking the disciples who they think He is. And Simon Peter called Him the “Son of The Living God”. The disciple Thomas in John 20:28 called Jesus “My Lord and my God”. Paul wrote in Hebrews 1 that God made the world through Jesus and that Jesus is the image of God. So do they have it all wrong?
What did Jesus say about who he was? Would He say to them no you have it all wrong, or would he agree with what they are claiming that Jesus is deity? Well when Simon Peter called Him “The Son of the living God” Jesus said he was right. When Thomas called Him “My Lord and my God” Jesus didn’t correct him but instead He told Thomas he was right. When the Jewish leaders said to Him “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly” Jesus said “I did tell you but you do not believe. . . .I and the Father are One”. What does this statement mean? The Jewish leaders response tells me what they thought He meant because they picked up stones to stone Him for “blasphemy” of “a mere man claiming to be God”. At another time Jesus told the Jewish leaders that “If you know Me you know the Father” and “I am not of this world” and “I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I Am”. Again they picked up stones to stone Him for blasphemy because they knew what He was saying. He was claiming to be alive before Abraham and to be God (I Am).
So if Jesus and those who knew Him claimed that He was God was Jesus just a “good teacher”? Apparently He is either God or a teacher who teaches lies. Was he just a moral man? Well He is either God or a liar and not moral at all. So what do His actions tell us about who He is?
Jesus did many things that were considered miracles, changing water into wine, healing a person’s withered hand, healing a person of leprosy, restoring eyesight to the blind, walking on water, stopping a storm, bringing the dead back to life, and coming back to life after His own death. So what does this say about who Jesus is? Can a good teacher or a moral man do these things? What are the attributes of God so we can compare. God is omniscient (all knowing). John said in John16:20 “Now we can see that you know all things”. God is omnipresent (everywhere present). Jesus said in Matthew 28:20 “surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” God is Omnipotent (all powerful) Jesus said in Matthew 28:18 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” God is Eternal (no beginning or end). John 1:1 declares of Jesus “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” God is Immutable (unchanging). Hebrews 13:8 says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
The prophets of God in the Old Testament told of one who would come as a savior for mankind and over a thousand years they were given parts of a detailed description of what this savior would look like. This description was so detailed there would be no mistaking Him when he came. Even the day he would arrive in Jerusalem was given. Who His descendants would be, where He would be born, how he would act, how He would be treated, and how he would die. Over 300 clues to the identity of this savior and Jesus is the only one who they all point to.
So why is it important for the savior to be more than just a man (deity or God)? It’s simple. Jesus said “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whomsoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life”. You see we are all going to die physically and spiritually unless someone pays the price for our sin, because the penalty for sin is spiritual death (separation from God). If Jesus were just a man he could substitute His spirit for one of us but being eternal His sacrifice covers all of us.
The only problem is you need to accept this and let Him substitute Himself for you. All you have to do is believe and ask. If you haven’t asked Him or don’t believe that He is who He says He is then you can’t receive the gift of everlasting life.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Even The Strongest Can Fall

Are you strong, mentally, physically, spiritually, or emotionally?

If you said yes then you are in danger. You see God resists the proud and His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Samson was the strongest man who ever lived. When he was born an angel of the Lord told his mother he should never cut his hair. His strength came from God’s spirit.
Judges 14:6: And the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart.
Judges 15:14: Then the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds broke loose from his hands.

Even though he had physical strength he had weak habits. He made poor choices when it came to women, and he never tried to change.
He married a Philistine woman that betrayed him. He slept with a harlot in Gaza. He fell in love with Delilah who later betrayed him for money. He chose women based on looks not character. Because he was so strong he thought he could not be defeated. Delilah (which means delicate) did not appear to be a threat to him.

Do you think it will never happen to me?

His enemy the Philistines could not defeat him because of the strength that God gave him. They knew that he had a weakness for women. They went to Delilah and offered her money if she could find out the secret of his strength. So she directly asked him. “Tell me where your strength lies.” He told her a false answer and then she would try to bind him and he would break free. This happened three times, so he knew she was trying to catch him. He rationalized away the danger, and he made a compromise by not leaving someone that was not good for him, and trying to hurt him.

Are you rationalizing away your problems? Are you making compromises in your life when it comes to your habits or who your friends are?

If you and I don’t deal with our weakness or problems they will keep reappearing and get worse. Just like the Philistines kept coming after Samson, problems will keep coming back at us. Just like Samson’s bad habits with women our bad habits will come up again and again if we don’t deal with them.

She kept pestering him for his secret of his strength. She said to him if you really loved me you would tell me. Have you ever had some one say this to you?
“If you really love me you would do this for me”. If you hear someone say this look out! If you really love me you will have sex with me. If you really love me you would lie for me. Any person who tries to make you prove your love is probably not the right one, and does not have your best interests in mind. Remember that real love won’t ask you to compromise your standards.

He used bad judgment and finally broke down and told her what he thought was his secret (if he cut his hair he would loose his strength). He became comfortable with her even though he knew she had tried to hurt him (he fell asleep in her lap).
Are you letting sin cloud your judgment? Are you becoming comfortable with the bad company you keep, and the repetition of bad habits?

She cut his hair while he slept. The Philistines came and blinded him and captured him. Judges 16:20: He awoke from his sleep and said “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that The Lord had departed from him. Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes. They bound him with Bronze fetters and he became a grinder in the prison.
Don’t let sin blind you and don’t let your repeated disobedience cause the Lord to leave you defenseless to fend for yourself

So, what things can we learn from this story?
1. Moral compromise (even the small ones) will make you vulnerable!
They can add up and keep coming at you and lead to a big fall

2. Temptation comes to you in attractive packages.
Delilah was good looking to him, so he stayed even when he knew she wanted to do him harm. Don’t let the outside appearance fool you. The fruit in the Garden of Eden looked good. Satan knows how to package sin so it looks good to us.

3. Temptation comes when we choose the wrong company
1 Corinthians 15:33: Evil company corrupts good habits.
Who do you choose to hang around with? Are you picking your friends wisely?

4. Sin is intoxicating. Sin will cloud your judgment.
When you sin it will feel good at first. It will get you excited. It will cloud your judgment and you will do it again and again and make more bad decisions.

Sin will blind you, sin will find you, and sin will grind you.
Sin will blind you. It will make you not see things clearly, like Samson did not see Delilah as a threat. You will not see things as a threat that are and do them. Things that in the long run will harm you, like cheat on your loved ones, or do drugs or drink.
Sin will find you. If you compromise and put yourself near temptation you will eventually take the bait, like Samson who took the bait hooker line and sinker. You will not be able to hide this from God. Sin will find you out. You will fall away from God and be defenseless.
Sin will Grind you. Samson in the end became a slave, the grinder at the prison. Sin will destroy you, grinding you down. It will take away your strength as it took Samson’s, and it will in the end take away the best things in your life; your wife or husband, your health (aids), your family.

The good news is God can give people second chances, even if you sin and disobey God.
Judges: 22 and 29-30: And the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaven. Then Samson called to the Lord saying, “Lord God remember me I pray! Strengthen me. I pray, just this once. O God, that I may take vengeance on these Philistines.” Samson took hold of the two middle pillars that supported the temple. Then Samson said. “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed with all his might and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it.

Samson got a second chance to redeem himself and help his people against the Philistines. You may get a second chance but there may still be consequences for sin. Samson in the end died. He could have defeated the Philistines from the start but he compromised, and messed around with sin. Don’t compromise, don’t tempt yourself, and be careful who you hang out with.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

What is Truth?

What Is Truth And Is Your Truth The Same As My Truth?
What is truth? Give me a definition of truth. Think about it.
A dictionary definition of truth is, “fidelity or faithfulness to an original standard.” Or, “conformity to rule, standard, pattern, or ideal.”
If your aim is true what does this mean. You are always accurate or on target, always the same.
If a carpenter says the floor or wall is true what does it mean? It means it is level or plumb and it follows the plans or the “original standard.”
Can two floors that are tilted at different angles both be level?

In the area of moral or spiritual truth is truth the same for every one?
Have you ever herd someone say, “You need to find your own truth”, or “your truth may not be the same as my truth”, or how about, “It may be true for you but it isn’t true for me”?
Is there more than one truth?
Here is a definition of spiritual or moral truth.
Moral truth is the standard for how we live our lives. If we want to know if something is right or wrong, good or evil then we measure it against this standard.
If we don't have a standard then anything is alright, there are no crimes and no wrong.

So how do we know truth? Is truth a what or a who, or is it both?

The what is the Bible The who would be Jesus
“The written standard.” “The living standard. “

Jesus is the living word; Apostle Paul wrote “The Word became flesh.”
In John 8:32 Jesus said “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
A few moments later Jesus made clear that the truth he had in mind was not just a concept but a person, when he said “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Was Jesus contradicting himself, or confused? I don’t think so because he makes it clear when he said “I am the way the truth and the life.”

Is he saying there is more than one truth? Jesus does not say a truth. He said the truth!

Truth is not relative and does not change from person to person, because Jesus is the incarnation of God, who “never changes or casts shifting shadows.” James 1:17.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8.

In today’s culture people don’t want to be absolute. People want to be tolerant of other ideas so they don’t offend others. However things are either true or not true.
If truth is a person, how does this change the way we think or act? It means that moral truth is not just something abstract or philosophical, and something you just form you own opinions about.
Truth is innately concrete because truth is a Person. One that is steadfast and never changing.

Christian faith is not just about how you relate to truth as a philosophical or abstract concept or idea. Christian faith is about how we relate to a person, Jesus Christ!

Scriptural commands or rules are not just instructions to obey but rather a way to relate to a person. Truth is RELATIONAL.

Let’s go back to our definition. If you are going to be true to yourself then you must have “fidelity or faithfulness to the original standard.”

The original standard is Jesus Christ! Are you faithful to Jesus?






Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Mountain Bike the Rainbow Rim Trail

A great place to mountain bike in Arizona is the Rainbow Rim Trail. This trail is located along the edge of the north rim of the Grand Canyon. Unlike the south rim the north rim has areas along the rim that are not in the National Park. And unlike the south rim the north rim is not very crowded with tour buses and tourists. There are areas on the south rim where you can park right at the rim and throw out a tent and set up camp.
Anyway back to the mountain bike trail. This trail is eighteen miles of fine single track running along the rim of the Grand Canyon. Along this eighteen miles are five points that stick out into the canyon. The trail follows the rim and then goes in away from the rim to negotiate around drainages or washes to eliminate large elevation changes and then returns to the rim and then out to the next point or (view point).
I have heard that the trail was made with mountain biking in mind, and as you ride it it feels that way. The climbs are not too difficult and the path is smooth and not too technical. And of course the views are world class. Don't get to involved in looking at the views while riding because if you go off the edge it's a long way down.

The trail runs between Timp Point in the south to Parissawampitts Point in the north. And the trail can be accessed from roads at any of the other three points along the way (North Timp Point, Locust Point, and Fence Point). The terrain is a most beautiful forest filled with an assortment of pines and aspen trees. This is high elevation country and the the trail is between 7500 ft. and 8000 ft. in elevation. In summer the temperatures are nice. But this area is closed in the winter due to deep snow. So the area opens May 15th and closes around October 15th.
Camping at any of the points is free. There are no facilities and it is about 43 miles back to Jacob Lake so bring plenty of food and water. You should bring rain gear because there is often rain during summer monsoon season. Here is a trail map I found at Epicenter's Singletrack.us.
AZ67 is an asphalt road but the rest are all dirt but not bad and in many cases good with gravel. Most can be driven with a regular 2 wheel drive car. To get there from Jacob Lake at the intersection of Highway 89A and AZ67 you take AZ67 south about 26.5 miles from the Kaibab Plateau Visitor
Center. About 0.7 miles past the entrance to the DeMotte Campground entrance you turn right or west on Forest Road (FR) 422. You takes this about 2 miles and then turn south or left on FR270. After about a mile you turn west or right on FR222 and take this for 5 miles to FR206 where you go only a quarter mile and then take FR271. You follow FR271 for 8 miles to Timp Point. While you are on the north rim be sure to go to the Lodge at the National Park, because it's not too crowded and real nice! There is also some great single track riding along the Arizona Trail running north from the National Park toward Jacob Lake. If you go to the Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center they can give you more information.
While you are on the North Rim there is also a great section of the Arizon Trail that you can ride. I had my wife drop me off and I rode a section and she picked me up latter in the day at a pre-determined location farther south on the trail. Here is a good map (again from singletrack.us) for a nice part of that trail.

Monday, August 2, 2010

String Cheese Incident, with Jerry Douglas, 2-20-99

This String Cheese Incident show has some incredible special guests. Jerry Douglas who is most likely the best dobro player in the world along with Tim O'Brien, and Pete Wernick some accomplished bluegrass players along with special guests on percussion and some members of the Rebirth Jazz Band make this show pretty fun to listen to. This is the first time they played the Weather Report song Birdland that became part of the rotation latter on. Oh yea and the sound quality is pretty darn good too!

String Cheese Incident
2/20/1999
Boulder Theatre
Boulder, CO
Matrix SBD

Set 1: Round the Wheel¹ > Drums¹ > Round the Wheel¹, Born on the Wrong Planet, Daddy's on the Roof Again², Deep Elem Blues², How Mountain Girls Can Love², Blue Bossa, Little Hands³ > Jam³ > Birdland³
Set 2: Footprints², Voodoo Chile²^, Handsome Molly², Sand Dollar, Climb > Tombstone Blues², Land's End² > Restless Wind²
Encore: Mercy Mercy Mercy*
Notes:
^ with Purple Haze teases

First Time Played: Birdland (Weather Report cover), Tombstone Blues (Bob Dylan cover)
Only Time Played: Daddy's on the Roof Again
Final Time Played: Deep Elem Blues
Guests:
¹ with a member of Baba Olatunji's band on percussion
² with Tim O'Brien (mandolin), Pete Wernick (banjo), and Jerry Douglas (dobro)
³ with Jerry Douglas on dobro
* with The Rebirth Brass Band

Mp3/265k
Download Links
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=I9KM2PR0 sci1999-02-20, one.rar
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=RIAE5SBN sci1999-02-20, two.rar
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=GWNQ5FRH sci1999-02-20, three.rar

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Leaking Vessels


The bible uses the analogy of a clay pot or "earthen vessels” to describe people. It says in Genesis 2:7 that God made man of the dust of the ground and breathed into him the breath of life and man became a living soul. The word breath also means spirit. So we are vessels used by God to hold spirit. 1 Corinthians 3:16 says to believers in Christ, Do you know you are a temple of God and the spirit of God dwells in you?
First God forms the vessel (or you and me). Isaiah 64:8 says Lord you are our Father we are the clay and you are the potter, and we are the work of your hand.” Genesis 2:7 as I said says, "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground". Just like a clay pot we are made of the dust of the ground.
Second God fills the vessel. Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. Often water is used as an analogy for spirit in the bible.
2 Timothy 2:20 says we can be a vessel of honor or a vessel of dishonor. Vessels of honor are ones that hold the Holy Spirit and give it out to others. The problem is that imperfection in our lives makes us imperfect vessels. Our imperfections pollute or poison what spirit is in us and makes us unclean and leaking vessels. When a vessel is dirty people do not want a drink of what we have to offer them. They don’t want our “unclean” stuff to leak on them.

When we leak or “bleed” this unclean stuff out on others no one wants to be around us. If you are full of bitterness, anger, and hate no one wants a drink of what we have. Lets look at a picture of someone who was “bleeding” out stuff and no one wanted to be around them. Lets look at Luke 8:43-45, A woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.
The law of this time considered any woman with this problem as unclean and she would not be allowed to touch anyone (see Leviticus 15:25). She had been considered “unclean” by others for twelve years. She had spent all she had trying to find a cure on her own.

Just like her many of us have a persistent problem that will not stop. We leak or bleed our “unclean” stuff on others. We say unkind things to others. We lash out with anger and are impatient and loose our tempers and no one wants to be around us. Just like her we try to find a solution to the problem on our own but it keeps coming back. Eventually it will have a great cost to us.

So what did she do to stop her problem? The first thing was that she had enough faith to believe in Jesus and come to Him. It was against the law for her to be among the people in her condition. It was a risk to do what she did. So she had to get past her fear and have faith and believe that Jesus could help her.

The Second thing we see is she touched the border of his garment. The border of the garment is down low at His feet. So to touch the border of the garment she was on her knees. We need to get on our knees. Proverbs 3:34 says God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. This means we must place Jesus as our Lord

The Third thing is the significance of the border of the garment in that time. In Numbers 15:37-41 we find that the border was a reminder of the Ten Commandments and had a blue thread running through it. It speaks of God’s authority and the blue reminds us of heaven. She submitted to His authority and so should we. And we need to be reminded of the promise of eternity in heaven.

In Luke 8:46-47, Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.

If we want Jesus to heal us of our unclean “bleeding” problem we must not remain hidden. People cannot pray with you for your problems if you don’t share them. She declared it in the presence of all. When we are too proud to admit our problems and we need help from Jesus we are forgetting God resists the proud.

She told them all how she had been healed. Once we are healed we must tell others. So they can find help too.

She came to Jesus and trusted that He would show grace and mercy. At that time for her to touch anyone with her “unclean” condition she was breaking the law. In Luke 8:48 Jesus said “Daughter, be of good cheer, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. He did not condemn her for breaking the law. Instead he healed her and sent her on her way with joy in her heart.

If we have faith in Jesus and come to Him in a humble way and are not afraid to let others see that we too have problems. Jesus will not condemn us for what we have done. Instead Jesus will plug the leaks in our leaking vessels. Then he will clean us up and send us on our way filled with joy as vessels of honor.

Only when we are clean vessels that can hold the Holy Spirit, will people want to be around us and share a drink of what we have to offer them.

If you have a need admit you need help and reach out to Jesus

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.” – 2 Cor. 4:7


So what is it that fills you?