Its Friday...

From an inkling that i was given~

And the darkness turned to the other darkness:" Run, something holy this way comes..."


~~~~~

It's Friday. Jesus is arrested in the garden where He was praying. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. The disciples are hiding and Peter's denying that he knows the Lord. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel, silent as a lamb before the slaughter. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is beaten, mocked, and spit upon. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Those Roman soldiers are flogging our Lord with a leather scourge that has bits of bones and glass and metal, tearing at his flesh. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. The Son of man stands firm as they press the crown of thorns down into his brow. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. See Him walking to Calvary, the blood dripping from His body. See the cross crashing down on His back as He stumbles beneath the load. It's Friday; but Sunday's a coming.

It's Friday. See those Roman soldiers driving the nails into the feet and hands of my Lord. Hear my Jesus cry, "Father, forgive them." It's Friday; but Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, bloody and dying. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. The sky grows dark, the earth begins to tremble, and He who knew no sin became sin for us. Holy God who will not abide with sin pours out His wrath on that perfect sacrificial lamb who cries out, "My God, My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?" What a horrible cry. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. And at the moment of Jesus' death, the veil of the Temple that separates sinful man from Holy God was torn from the top to the bottom because Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, heaven is weeping and hell is partying. But that's because it's Friday, and they don't know it, but Sunday's a coming.

And on that horrible day 2000 years ago, Jesus the Christ, the Lord of glory, the only begotten Son of God, the only perfect man died on the cross of Calvary. Satan thought that he had won the victory. Surely he had destroyed the Son of God. Finally he had disproved the prophecy God had uttered in the Garden and the one who was to crush his head had been destroyed. But that was Friday.

Now it's Sunday. And just about dawn on that first day of the week, there was a great earthquake. But that wasn't the only thing that was shaking because now it's Sunday. And the angel of the Lord is coming down out of heaven and rolling the stone away from the door of the tomb. Yes, it's Sunday, and the angel of the Lord is sitting on that stone and the guards posted at the tomb to keep the body from disappearing were shaking in their boots because it's Sunday, and the lamb that was silent before the slaughter is now the resurrected lion from the tribe of Judah, for He is not here, the angel says. He is risen indeed.

It's Sunday, and the crucified/resurrected Christ has defeated death, hell, sin and the grave. It's Sunday. And now everything has changed. It's the age of grace, God's grace poured out on all who would look to that crucified lamb of Calvary. Grace freely given to all who would believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary was buried and rose again. All because it's Sunday.

It's Friday! But Sunday's a Coming!

A band of brothers

I've bitten the bullet,

after all these years. (has it been years? ... yes it has)

I've gotten my hands on Band of Brothers again, and I'll watch it in its entirety again.

I remember when it came on TV, it was after I had made my decision to join, but before I had moved back to enlist.

I remember watching every week as the stories unfolded and melded.

a time later, a dark long time later.

I faced my men, men that I trained and trained with.

For the last weeks I had been taking them through the process that I too had gone through.

Forging weapons by first breaking their spirits.

I remember dishing them punishment, sudden and harsh, because I noticed a certain amount of slackness and incompetence with their machine guns.

I made them learn, I burned it into them, like it was branded into me.

But i digress,

It was long week, mixed with lectures and field training, they were tired, and so was I.

Friday afternoon, the schedule said Artillery Doctrine lecture.

They filed in, they sat, ready to pass the time, minds supersaturated.

To their surprise I flicked the lights and started the DVD - episode 2 Day of Days, featuring the Brécourt Manor Assault, a text book example of the assault on a fixed position.

We watched, then I taught. At question time, they surprised me, they gave me alternative strategies and scenarios. Absorption, analysis, improvisation to modern weaponry.

They all got to go home early that Friday night.

No one thought to question why a bunch of artillery men needed to learn about infantry maneuvers. It didn't matter, we all enjoyed ourselves, and we all learnt.

A night under the stars with Elton John

After sitting for hours in the blazing heat, a black chopper emerges over the horizon.

"look! He's waving at us!" shouts an excited female fan. The crowd waves at the chopper as it settles down.

The bitch himself struts on stage, resplendent in a black velvet coat embroided with multihued flowers (ooo so pretty) to begin the concert, but not before having a (right royal?) whinge about this is the earliest he's ever started a concert.

Then he sits at the yamaha concert grand and weaves his magic.

2.5 hrs non stop, one man, one piano and nothing else but the weave of a master story teller and the musical genius that is Elton John.

Sure he may be an old, man loving he bitch, but boy can he sing and play that piano.

Wish you were there with me.

Electricity - Billy Elliot the Musical

I can't really explain it,
I haven't got the words
It's a feeling that you can't control
I suppose it's like forgetting, losing who you are
And at the same time something makes you whole
It's like that there's a music playing in your ear
And I'm listening, and I'm listening and then I disappear

And then I feel a change
Like a fire deep inside
Something bursting me wide open impossible to hide
And suddenly I'm flying, flying like a bird
Like electricity, electricity
Sparks inside of me
And I'm free I'm free

It's a bit like being angry,
it's a bit like being scared
Confused and all mixed up and mad as hell
It's like when you've been crying
And you're empty and you're full
I don't know what it is, it's hard to tell
It's like that there's a music playing in your ear
But the music is impossible, impossible to hear
But then I feel it move me
Like a burning deep inside
Something bursting me wide open impossible to hide
And suddenly I'm flying, flying like a bird
Like electricity, electricity
Sparks inside of me
And I'm free I'm free
Electricity, sparks inside of me
And I'm free, I'm free
I'm free. Free I'm free

The secret life of cream

As I write this,

one of the most health conscious people I know, shovels gobs of cream and jelly into her mouth.

It is midnight, I am aghast.

It is like watching Linford Christie sculling pints next to me at the local.

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

I am reminded of the farside, comic, where mary shuts the blinds, locks the door and has a little lamb.

There is much laughter in the house.

I'm going to miss this.

even the yelling and the guilt.

Now excuse me, there's a trifle dish waiting for me.

Earthsea

Its been an enjoyable few days.

The joys of entertaining, cooking for an audience, being able to utter anything but table for one.

All pales in comparison to remembering what the light is.

Light is, when you push back the darkness, and know that even if you can't see them, an army pushes with you.

Friends, don't let me forget this.

Another few snippets floating in my mind:

1) Across the universe - This movie totally rocks, I cannot even begin to talk about how taken I was with this film. If you love the music of the Beatles or musicals or loves stories or just a good movie, just go and buy a ticket now.

2) 6 years... its a long time kiddo, The stories I could tell... 2001, what a year it was, a degree, new love, new adventures. The world can change in the blink of an eye, let alone 6 years. Hope that we're even better friends then.

3) Earthsea, names and the power of existence.

Cooking up a storm

Its hot out side,

Its going to be a sleepless night i guess.

I'll expand more on these another time:

1) 5 hrs in the kitchen, wow a new record.

2) I was so tired, drunk and buggered I missed garbage day? Wow

3) My first visitor! Excitement.

4) A gunners conversation

5) days of baited breath, "are you safe?

I'm Hammered!

Plastered, smashed, inebriated, off my face, at the board ... call it whatever you want.

I've been drunk since 2.30 this afternoon and I don't give a damn! Whooo!

Here's the secret folks,

I'm a talky drunk.

Every damned poet needs an audience,

and mines just running off for the sunset.

A fire without fuel dies.

where were you when I needed you?

Would you rather read my words then hear my voice?

Damn you all and your indifference.

Meet the finches

So i've finally caved in and accepted house mates in Casa de Caravaggio, more for the company then the financial reason you see.

So now I share the house with a nice little couple, John and Jane Finch.

So far its been relatively peaceful, the two of them sit in the corner of the room quietly discussing whatever little couples talk about.

I had a brief conversation with them but they seemed to be really stressed out with the move (must be newly married methinks) so I think I'll leave them to settle in before I start chilling out with them.

Oooo, I think I hear the first signs of an argument, entertainment has begun!

Yes I am... Dammit

Amidst a conversation,

A parry swung towards my head.

"And so all the others are just plain and normal (or to that effect)?"

And in a sweet poison in the tone, "what did you mean when you said that you're better than..."

I knew those tones and I was simply too tired, so I answered safely and in some if not most parts truthfully.

Uniqueness and all that.

I think that some are more unique then others. I think there's certain beauty in us all.
I think that if men so wish, they will live and die for vanilla and call it gold.
I know that if women so wish, all flaws disappear into potential and beggars turn into princes.

As for me?

I think most of all of you should know: (well, those that get to see at least more than 1 facet of me anyway)

That my ego dictates to me that I am better then most

That I am aloof sometimes and in my own way rightfully so.

That I do on occasion use my name, voice and mannerisms as weapons

That I know that when you like me you call this confidence and when you don't you call it arrogance.


"Englishman In New York"

I don't drink coffee I take tea my dear
I like my toast done on one side
And you can hear it in my accent when I talk
I'm an Englishman in New York

See me walking down Fifth Avenue
A walking cane here at my side
I take it everywhere I walk
I'm an Englishman in New York

I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York

If, "Manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say

I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York

Modesty, propriety can lead to notoriety
You could end up as the only one
Gentleness, sobriety are rare in this society
At night a candle's brighter than the sun

Takes more than combat gear to make a man
Takes more than a license for a gun
Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can
A gentleman will walk but never run

If, "Manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say

I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York

Scoot!

It was a lazy sunny holiday,

A treat for myself in the final days of my army contract.

I could have gone anywhere I wanted, all I had to do was ask and they would send me, they owed me so.

Instead I fell off the radar and limped around asia with my backpack and a wad of greenbacks.

It was the days of the Tsunami aftermath, I figured I would see how some parts were recovering.

It was surprising how fast the locals had recovered, the roads were all cleared, the shops rebuilt and the bars re liquored.

The only testament of the killer waves' passing was the ruined carcass of a once beach from McDonalds fenced off from the rest of the beach. It seemed that it was a management decision not to rebuild until they were completely certain the Tsunami was an "Act of God".

I remember standing in front of the shop trying to chose between the racing bike and the black scooter, and going for the "safer" option in my head. "Men that limp should not ride bikes that can go 200 km/h" i remember telling myself.

So I puttered around that place in a shiny black honda scooter, puttered being a relative statement of course.

Much later when I returned to civilization, Bo Grosso and I concurred that going at 60 on a scooter, feels like doing 100 in a car.

My little black scooter used to hit 80km/h, Ahh those were the days.

I relived them as I stood in front of yet another shop, and I pointed at a little red scooter this time.

That one I said, the little red honda.

"You know, we've got dirt bikes and vespas too" started the
sales man.

Yes I knew, but seeing that lil red toy, just made me smile... and as I ran my hands over the frame, with all its rusty bits and faded paint, I could see it restored to its former glory.

"1985 huh?" I said as I prepared to get the price I had in my head, "looks like it needs a lot of work..."


Late that night, when I was sure no one would be around, I took a ride on a little red scooter, a 1985 honda nifty fifty.

No helmet, just like back then. tiny engine, just like back then. Roar of the wind & smiling like a baby bird that just found its wings again, just like back then.


________

Epilogue

A few days later I was back at the shop handing the keys back the salesman.

"Not safe enough" I told him, it simply can't keep up with traffic.

Truth is, I knew that when I bought it. I had intended to fix up that little motor to be as powerful as the one from the black scooter, but somewhere during that late night ride, I jsut realized... I can't be bothered anymore.

So there I was, handing the keys back.

Its time for something new,
I'll know it when I see it.

At last... a post!

Its been a lonely time out here.

Thank the Lord he saw fit to send me up to Sydney for a long weekend to spend time with Bo Grosso, to whom I am grateful for much hospitality and friendship.

Once again since my last post, there have been many a flare up of things I could have written about.

Fortunately for all involved, I do recognize that my writing side is also my melodramatic and meloncolic so I will not fully indulge it.

Flashes of thoughts gone past lately:

1) Holy Shit is that how much I've spent?

2) Damned Fobs with their names from the big book of asian names.

3) Riding a scooter at 45 km/h, wayyy scarier then driving at 240 km/h

4) Almost a month here, no new friends yet, can I only properly relate to asians?

5) Be proud of your name dammit. It is a weapon, a charm, it is strength.

6) So strange to hear the words of war, coming from the innocent (or at least perceived so)

7) No one rode for the cup, as predicted, yet... I'm still disappointed.

Enough snippets.

Shall we begin?