Musings

Psalm 23

2010-08-16T19:39:00.000-05:00

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Rob Bell interviews Shane Hipps on Technology

2009-03-25T11:54:00.001-05:00

Rob Bell Interviews Shane Hipps About Technology from Deadly Viper on Vimeo.

Do schools kill creativity?

2009-02-02T16:59:00.000-06:00

Reader

2009-01-27T16:51:00.002-06:00

From the Prayer Before Study

2008-12-17T20:02:00.001-06:00

From the Prayer Before Study
by Thomas Aquinas

Ineffable Creator...
You are proclaimed
the true font of light and wisdom,
and the primal origin
raised high beyond all things.

Pour forth a ray of Your brightness
into the darkened places of my mind;
disperse from my soul the twofold darkness
into which I was born:
sin and ignorance.

You make eloquent the tongues of infants.
Refine my speech
and pour forth upon my lips
the goodness of Your blessing.

Grant to me keenness of mind,
capacity to remember,
skill in learning,
subtlety to interpret,
and eloquence in speech.

May You guide the beginning of my work,
direct its progress,
and bring it to completion.

You Who are true God and true Man,
Who live and reign,
world without end.

Amen

2008-11-24T22:45:00.001-06:00

Watch CBS Videos Online

Disturb Us

2008-09-12T19:09:00.001-05:00

In the words of Sir Francis Drake from 1577:

Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

http://www.catalystspace.com/content/read/changing_the_world_disturbs_me/

Colorado Pictures

2008-07-23T17:07:00.002-05:00

The Ancient Practices

2008-07-20T13:35:00.003-05:00

I have started learning about and practicing the ancient practices. There are seven ancient practices that go all the way back to Abraham, which means that they are held in common by Jews, Christians and Muslims. The purpose of these practices is spiritual formation--the growth and development that we make as humans created in the image of God. Brian McLaren states it well when he writes that at their core, the spiritual practices are habits we form that "close the gap between the character we want to possess and the character we currently have.” Here are the seven practices:

1. Fixed hour prayer
2. Sabbath
3. Fasting
4. Sacred Meal (Communion)
5. Sacred Journey (Pilgrimage)
6. Liturgical Year
7. Tithing

I am working on an essay that discusses each of these practices in a little more detail. Email me if you would like me to send it to you when I am finished. But for now I want to encourage you to start practicing them. Please share your comments and post any questions you may have.

If you are interested, Thomas Nelson is releasing a book series on the ancient practices. The first book in the series is by Brian McLaren and he gives an overview of the history of the practices. The next books will deal with one of the practices in greater detail, each being written by a different author. This series will span the next two years. Go to the Thomas Nelson website or more information about this series.

More food for thought:
Interview with Brian McLaren from RELEVANT MAGAZINE
Ancient Disciplines for the Church - Phyllis Tickle from MARS HILL

The Story of Stuff

2008-07-18T17:15:00.001-05:00

Well worth 20 minutes of your time...

http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Donald Miller

2008-07-14T11:55:00.001-05:00

Here is a fun little interview with Donald Miller.

Catalyst Voices - Donald Miller from Catalyst on Vimeo.

On Creativity

2008-07-13T18:44:00.003-05:00

Are you a creative person?

People like dualistic thinking. Is it A or B? Democrat or Republican? Christian or Non-Christian? We think this way because it is easy to for us to group people into one category or the other, exclusively. As a musician, I am considered to be an artist, a creative person. As a teacher, I am considered to be a professional, and an uncreative person. Now, I am a music teacher, which makes categorizing me more difficult, but that's besides the point. People often say that some professions are creative while others are not. But this is not true.

You do not have to be an artist or musician or writer to be creative. Each of us has creative potential. Take your job and insert it after this statement: The art of ____________ . For me, it is The Art of Teaching. You might be The Art of Leadership, Communication, Organization. Start to think about your position and work in this way and you will see a change in your creativity.

Lastly, there are some methods you can use to get the creative juices flowing. Think about your day. You probably have some type of routine or schedule: wake up, shower, dress, breakfast, drive, work, lunch, work, drive, dinner, tv, read, bed. Not bad, but this is rather monotonous, dull, and lacking in creativity. Here are a few creative techniques that artists, musicians and writers often use:

1. Spark up your environment. Move furniture, decorate, put up pictures, quotations, and other inspirational things. Do something to make your environment different and thought provoking.

2. Change frequencies. Try this tomorrow: Drive a different route to work (don't be late!). Change up your routine. Try getting up and getting breakfast straight away and then go shower and get ready. Or when you come home, do your reading first or take a short nap (although I don't like naps, but they may be good for you). Anything you can do to change things up will stimulate your brain and your creativity.

3. Marinate. Yes, like chicken, ideas need time to marinate, to soak up all the flavors and spices and set before cooking. And this takes time, but it is so good! Got an idea? Write it down and then let it go. Note it in a journal (or blog) and then leave it alone. You can work it out later. Just get the initial thought down and then come back to it in a week. You will find yourself feeling much more creative and refreshed.

4. Play! Improvise. Have fun doing something you enjoy. Just do it (Nike). Go outside, exercise, scribble. Think like a kid. And if that is hard for you, surround yourself with some kids and watch what they do.

We all have creative potential. It is a matter of cultivating and developing it as we would any other skill or ability. Unlock your creativity and you will find that you will become much more effective at whatever it is you do. More importantly, you will enjoy the things that you do and they will continue to flourish and spread like wildfire.

Ideas

2008-07-13T18:15:00.006-05:00

We often get great ideas at the strangest times. I'm interested to see when other people get ideas.

And I want to encourage you when you get a great idea to stop what you are doing and capture it: write it down, send yourself a jott, or even better, tell someone about it and share the gold.

Web home

2008-07-12T07:10:00.002-05:00

I have just created a central hub for all of my websites.

Go to:

www.kprichardson.com

Here you will find my professional and personal webpages:

+ A professional e-portfolio from Ball State University.

+ An online music classroom for Mr. Richardson's students and parents.

+ A webpage dedicated to all things trombone.

+ A personal weblog from Blogger.

+ An online directory of my books, music, podcasts, and articles.

+ Text, photos, quotes, links, chats, audio, video I stumble upon.

Check it out and send me some feedback!

Get an Education from MIT...for FREE

2008-07-09T17:59:00.003-05:00

Online you can access most of the materials used in 1800 courses at MIT. You can find the course syllabus, lecture notes, problem and answer sets, labs, readings and reading lists, videos, special features, and more. Browse the courses by department and get started on your education.

Note: You don't receive credit for any of the classes and you cannot earn a degree. But you do receive all of the knowledge. Isn't this the true reward for education?

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm

Don't Forget the Basics

2008-07-07T14:14:00.002-05:00

Excerpt from Francis Chan article:

We need the same sort of reminders about God’s goodness. We are programmed to focus on what we don’t have, bombarded multiple times throughout the day with what we need to buy that will make us feel happier or sexier or more at peace. This dissatisfaction transfers over to our thinking about God. We forget that we already have everything we need in Him. Because we don’t often think about the reality of who God is, we quickly forget that He is worthy to be worshipped and loved. We are to fear Him.

Read the full article here: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god_article.php?id=7543

What is this?

2008-06-23T18:08:00.004-05:00

http://www.cornerstonesimi.com/special/building_project/welcome.html

Orchestra Roller Coaster

2008-06-23T16:08:00.001-05:00

H20 Power

2008-06-22T18:08:00.001-05:00

Proposal

2008-05-09T12:38:00.004-05:00

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

I didn't sleep more than an hour and a half Monday night. I got up early Tuesday morning, had breakfast, and headed over to Coco Cay to do the first kayak tour. It was a beautiful day, calm and sunny. Kristin joined me for the second kayak tour (she passed the test!), then we had lunch, and enjoyed some snorkeling that afternoon. (I'm getting the underwater pictures developed soon). We headed back to the ship to clean up and change for formal night. Kristin came to the Captain's Welcome Aboard Reception and I played for the big band set. I started to get nervous. Do you go down on your right knee or left knee? Do you hold the ring in your right hand or left hand? Is her middle name really Diane? I don't know what else it could be. I escorted Kristin to the dining room and kept conversation to a minimum. She went to dinner by herself, while I was making the final preparations for the proposal with the cruise director, photographer, and video camera. I met her after dinner and we went into the theatre. I made sure she sat on the outside by the aisle. We talked for a little while and then I told her that I needed to go get ready for the show. I told her to stay in her seat and I would come meet her there after the show (this wasn't really a lie). I went back to my cabin, opened my safe drawer, and put the ring in my jacket pocket (over my heart, aww). Then I went up to the orchestra pit and tried to keep cool. It was very difficult to focus and play the show. The show goes through each decade of music from the 50's to the 80's. Each decade my stomach sank lower and lower and I had to go to the bathroom more and more. After Michael Jackson's "Thriller" for the 80's medley, there was a blackout and I exited through the back of the theatre, outside around the promenade deck, down the stairs and through the back stage. The show finished and the curtain closed around the singers and dancers. I moved into place behind the curtain. The video shows the rest of the proposal.

Guest Entertainers

2008-03-28T10:26:00.004-05:00

One of the most exciting and challenging aspects of my job is having guest entertainers. Essentially, these are independent arists who bring their show to the cruise for a week at a time. We have comedians, magicians, jugglers, and other variety acts. Some of the shows use a live band, in which we provide the music. We meet with the guest entertainer the day of the show to have a one hour rehearsal. This gives us a chance to run through the show once, make a few notes, and (if time) check on a few things. Then we do two shows that night. We are always having new guest entertainers, which I enjoy because we get to do a different show every week, but it is challenging and I have to be performing at my best. Here is a highlight of some of the guest entertainers I have worked with:

The Bryan G Show - comedian/musician/impressionist (comupressionist)

The Wonders of Charles Bach - magician/illusionist

Jeff Taveggia - Jeff the Juggler

Also...

Steve Carte - juggler, comedian

El Gaucho - a variety act from Argentina

Logos II

2008-03-24T11:27:00.003-05:00

I came across a wonderful discovery in Nassau the other day. Actually, in some ways I think it discovered me.

I had spent the day at the Ardastra Gardens for an extended retreat of silence. It is usually a quiet place of stone walkways surrounded by a variety of trees, flowers and greenery. I said usually a quiet place. Mostly you will hear birds singing and see a few lizards (lizards are like the squirrels of the Bahamas). But today, there was a children's festival going on with an Easter egg hunt, air walk, and loud music. I went to the far end of the garden on the other side of the hill and sat down next to a calm stream of water. I had lunch, reflected on John 14-17, and wrote in my journal. I enjoyed it until the end when I was interrupted by the segue tour racing around the area. So much for my retreat of silence.

As I walked back to the ship I was thinking about how distracted and irritated I can get with other people. Why is this? I don't think it has to do with other people, but something to do with me. This is an area that I need to grow in. As I came to the port terminal, I saw a ship sitting at the dock called Logos II. On the side of the ship were the words "Bookship." I became curious. Is this a cruising bookstore? I thought wow! The books are coming to me!

I made my way to the gangway and asked the man what this ship was. He told me that it was a bookstore with a variety of Christian and children's literature as well as other subjects like health, cooking, and textbooks. Naturally, I had to go in and browse.

As I went through the doorway, my eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store. I looked into each section and started to accumulate a hefty pile of books in my arms. I chose not to grab a basket as this would only feed my weakness. When I got to the end, I reviewed my choices and noticed that these were all books for me. I quickly went over to the cookbook section to get a book for my girlfriend (actually, I was only getting the book for her so that she would cook for me!). As I stood in line with my armful of books, I was challenged with several questions: Do I really need this? Right here and now? Would someone else benefit more from this? Am I loving others as I am loving myself? I came face to face with my own selfish self.

I tried to shake the thoughts, but I couldn't. I decided to put some books back and only get what I truly needed and would use now - a men's health book, a collection of C.S. Lewis quotes, and a packet of Monet postcards. I also kept the cookbook for my girlfriend as a gift. After all, it is titled "Dinner for Two." This relieved some of my concern with the first few questions. But I still kept thinking, Am I loving others as I am loving myself?

I was satisfied with my selections and finished checking out. As I was gathering my books and putting away my money, I felt that I needed to stay to talk to the woman in line behind me. I kept my money out. She was handing the books to the cashier one at a time, looking at the total price as they added up. She looked to her children who were holding books and asked them to hand her the next one they wanted. She gave her one more book, saw the new total, and stopped there. She gave the three other books to the cashier to put away. I looked at the woman and told her to get the books and I would pay the difference. I told her how much I enjoyed reading and wanted to help so that she and her children could enjoy reading their books. She thanked me and I was filled with joy. We left the store together with our books in hand.

It was a small thing to give her the money to pay for a few books. It is not about the greatness or smallness of our actions. It is about loving others as we have loved ourselves. It is about blessing others as we have been blessed. This encounter changed me and affected me deeply. How can people be such a distraction and irritation? I have often felt that other people get in the way and slow me down. I do not feel this way anymore, although I do need reminded. Maybe people are placed in our path for a purpose. Maybe we do need to slow down, even stop, so that we can love others better.

Last Week

2008-03-17T07:49:00.003-05:00

I went to Walmart last week and bought a few items that I have really been enjoying. I got a snorkel and mask that I can use whenever I want in Nassau. There are very few fish and shells. I mostly find lost beach articles (sun glasses, towels, hotel cards) and a handful of empty coconut halves (for beach drinks). I also bought a frisbee that I have played with a few people in Florida. It is usually too windy in the Bahamas. I also discovered a new green tea brand and it is excellent: Celestial Seasonings, Honey Lemon Ginseng Green Tea with antioxidants. Lastly, I finally bought the Lord of The Rings Trilogy, all extended editions with the bonus discs. I watched the Fellowship of the Ring on Friday with some friends and plan on watching each one on the following Fridays. After that, I might go back and watch them again with the commentaries on. I've got time!

In other news, the Pacific Life Open has begun (tennis) and I try to catch matches in between shows. If you have not watched tennis in awhile, you must check it out. There is some really high quality performance, athleticism and competition going on in both men's and women's tennis.

So that's what I've been keeping myself busy with. I am continuing to run, usually 4-6 miles. And I am currently reading a biography of John Stott (the early years). I haven't read a biography for awhile, but I have really enjoyed it. It is interesting to see how another person has done life and how a series of events plays out in the bigger story. It makes you wonder how what you are doing right now will play a role in the future. Lastly, I must recommend Marcus Buckingham's podcast "Go Put your Strengths to Work." It is excellent and it is free. If you do not have time to read the book, then listen to the podcast.

That's all I've got for now. Talk to you soon.

Earth Hour

2008-03-14T11:19:00.001-05:00

Gold Nuggets

2008-03-10T13:14:00.002-05:00

You know those key ideas that bring such clarity and focus? Those small, but powerful principles that cut straight to the heart? Those values that are more valuable than gold? I call these gold nuggets. I have a small bucket of them that I have collected over the past 23 years. Whenever I discover a new gold nugget, I pick it up, brush it off, and put it with the rest of them. I have started a new page near the back of my journal entitled "Gold Nuggets." This will help me to keep track and reference these nuggets from time to time. I encourage everyone to keep a list of their gold nuggets. I just started, but I will be posting some gold nuggets from time to time. I hope that you will share your gold nuggets with me. Happy digging!

Gold Nugget #1: Life is about balance.

Broken Image Bearers

2008-03-07T08:56:00.004-06:00

I had this picture today in my mind and did a quick google image search to find something like it. Naturally I couldn't find it exactly, but these three seem to convey the idea.

Colossians 1:15-20

Poetry

2008-02-25T08:07:00.004-06:00

Another Reason Why I Don’t Keep A Gun In The House

The neighbors’ dog will not stop barking.
He is barking the same high, rhythmic bark
that he barks every time they leave the house.
They must switch him on on their way out.

The neighbors’ dog will not stop barking.
I close all the windows in the houseand put on a Beethoven symphony full blast
but I can still hear him muffled under the music,
barking, barking, barking,

and now I can see him sitting in the orchestra,
his head raised confidently as if Beethoven
had included a part for barking dog.

When the record finally ends he is still barking,
sitting there in the oboe section barking,
his eyes fixed on the conductor who is
entreating him with his baton

while the other musicians listen in respectful
silence to the famous barking dog solo,
that endless coda that first established
Beethoven as an innovative genius.

(From Billy Collins collection of poems "Sailing Alone Around the Room")

It Don't Mean A Thing

2008-02-23T12:11:00.001-06:00

Sovereign of the Seas Orchestra - Live from Boleros

Surfs up

2008-02-18T10:22:00.000-06:00

This past Friday I went surfing for the first time. It was a lot of fun and a good workout. I went with the guitar playing from Australia and he taught me the basics. The first wave I caught I could only get my left leg up and I stayed down on my right knee. I didn't look so cool, but I rode it for a good while. I only caught two other waves that I actually stood on the board, but only lasted for about a second and a half. My friend said I did a great job for my first time. I learned some things about life from surfing.

I've always heard surfers talk about that perfect wave, "Dude, it was like, totally wicked!" They can hardly find the words to describe it. I always thought that they were exagerating. How could a wave be so cool? That was until I actually caught my own wave. It was great, the timing, the speed, it all felt so right and so good. I learned a few lessons from surfing today.

1. Patience. You have to wait for the right wave. In the course of 2 hours I only went for 16 waves or so.

2. Perseverence. You cannot give up. Once you have chose a spot, stay with it and then see #1. It was tempting to move up and down the beach to where other surfers were catching waves, but the grass is not greener on the other side. The waves come in cycles (waves) and they will come to you. Do not go after someone else's wave, but wait and focus on your own.

3. Practice. Each time Iwent for a wave I got a little better, a little quicker, a little longer. You must learn how to get the timing down, when to get in position, when to start paddling, an dwhen to get up on the board (also, when to get off the board, if you make it that far). It is a balance of catching the wave at just the right time with just the right speed.

After you catch a wave, it makes you want to go right back out and catch the next one. I'm hooked now and can't wait to go again.

Waves

2008-02-18T10:15:00.002-06:00

Day 58 - Tuesday, February 12

I made it to the waves today. It was so refreshing and I had a lot of fun body surfing. There is something powerful when you come face to face with the waves. You feel like you are on the edge and you want to see just how far you can go. But the waves always bring you back in. They lift you up and set you back down on the shore. You can fight it, but only so far and for so long, before you have to let go. And then it is much easier. There is nothing worse then getting smaked in the face by a wall of salt water. It is much easier to go with the waves then against them.

Otis

2008-02-18T10:08:00.003-06:00

Day 57 - Monday, February 11

I met Otis tonight. He just turned 105 years old. Immediately I started doing some math in my head. He was born in 1903. Not only has he lived over 100 years, but he has lived through some of the toughest times our nation has faced, including the Great Depression and two world wars and recent events like 9/11 and hurricane Katrina. He has lived almost 5 times longer than I have. I bet he could tell me stories for days, months, maybe years about the places he has been, the people he has met, and the things he has done and seen.

When asked what his secret to long life was, he sincerely replied "You gotta know who's boss. The Big Boss." Pointing upwards he said, "I thank God Almighty everyday for my life." There were several amens from the audience. It was almost like a church service. I was inspired by his boldness, not in a domineering or overpowering way. But he was not ashamed to give God all thanks and glory. He acknowledged his God before men and he shared with them the certainty of his hope in God. I need to be more like Otis.

Bebop

2008-02-18T08:02:00.003-06:00

Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, J.J. Johnson

Funny

2008-02-11T12:26:00.001-06:00

This past cruise I saw one of my residents from college when I was an RA. He just graduated as well and is looking for a job. I saw him at the cruise dodgeball tournament where it is the guests against the crew. He thought it was very cool that I was working on the ship. I am very thankful to be doing something that I enjoy and earning money doing it. Plus, the extra time to read and study, run and workout, and enjoy the sun and the water, it is really great. And I am making some good friends from around the world. I wish that everyone could have an experience and opprotunity like this.

Ash Wednesday and Lent

2008-02-08T09:55:00.000-06:00

I attended a Catholic Church in Nassau, Bahamas for Ash Wednesday to begin the Lent season. I think this was the first time I had been to a Catholic Church. I tried to watch others and follow their lead. I really took a lot from this service and it was good to sing and worship with others and hear a sermon. The priest reminded us of Paul's struggle: Why do we do things that we don't want to do and don't do the things that we want to do? Lent is the time to make a concerted effort to get rid of the things that we should not do and to actually do the things that we want and should do. We used the Book of Common of Prayer during the service and I wrote down a prayer that is attributed to St. Francis:

Merciful God, to you we commend ourselves and all those who need your help and correction.
Where there is hatred, give love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is sadness, joy;
Where there is darkness, light;
Grant that we may not seek so much to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, in pardoning we are pardoned and it is in dying that we are born into eternal life. Amen.

During Lent I am participating in a study called "40 Days Towards Justice." Each week has a short article by a writer from a number of organizations and scripture readings for each day. It helps me to have a plan and I am finding this study to be very challenging. You can download it here: https://www.worldvision.org/aoa.nsf/aids/events_40daystowardjustice - I highly recommend it. Please let me know if you are using it so that I can talk with you about what you are learning.

New Running Shoes

2008-02-01T12:58:00.001-06:00

I started running when I joined the ship and have been increasing my distance every week. I am up to 6 miles this week! I run about an 8:30 mile pace. I run 3 days, bike 1 day, run 2 days and rest 1 day. I am contemplating training for a marathon, but it is so much more than just running. I don't know how well I can do it on the ship. Maybe if I stay in shape while on the ship I will be able to train over the summer. But I am very excited that I got a new pair of actual running shoes. I think quality shoes are a good investment considering how much time you spend on your feet. I thought about getting an ipod shuffle so that I could workout to music. Its funny because now people need an ipod and headphones and arm band and so much extra stuff so that they can workout. I see some people in the gym spend more time adjusting their headphones and choosing music to listen to then actually working out. I enjoy a much simpler approach to running - just me and my shoes.

What we eat

2008-02-01T10:02:00.000-06:00

You must look at these pictures of what families around the world eat in one week. Where do you fit in?

http://relevantmagazine.com/releblog/revolution/what-we-eat/

Happy New Year!

2008-01-28T10:14:00.000-06:00

Kayaking Lessons

2008-01-25T12:33:00.000-06:00

We finally made it into Coco Cay. We could not do the tendering service for about a week because of the wind and rough seas. Yesterday was beautiful and we spent the day on the island. I did the kayak tours. I think kayaking is a great activitiy to do with somone you love - it is a great test of your patience, trust, and communication. Your true colors come out when you are kayaking with someone.

On the second tour, one of the couples was having a hard time getting started. I looked back to help them and saw them fighting. That guy wasn't listening to the girl and the girl was giving up. Both were frustrated and not having any fun. It had been less than a minute and they were ready to turn back. I gave them some tips and encouraged them to continue. They made it halfway through the tour before getting tired and wanting to go back for lunch. I was glad that they made it that far and I learned something from them about relationships.

When you kayak, the back person is in charge of steering the kayak. They have control over which direction the kayak goes. The person in front must submit to their direction. Simultaneously, the person in the front sets the pace and has control over the speed of the kayak. The person in back must submit to their pace and follow their lead. In order to successfully kayak, there must be mutual submission (Ephesians 5:21).

You too and Good

2008-01-25T08:09:00.000-06:00

I often tell people to enjoy the rest of their cruise, in which they reply, "You too!" I want to say, "Thanks. I'll be here for the next six months and will try to enjoy it." I also wish them safe travles home..."You too! If you're ever traveling sometime, in the future, or something." Again, thank you. I will need this in about six months. Please be careful when using the "You too!" phrase. (Brian Reagan)

I have also been thinking about the common response good...
How are you? Good.
How is work? Good.
School? Family? Friends? Good.
I used to give people a hard time about this answer. Are you really good or just saying that? Do you really care how someone is or just want to know that they are good?

As I have been reading through Genesis, I came back to the repeated phrase, "...and it was good." God continually says this about his creation. But after creating man, he stands back and says, "It is very good." Maybe are response to "How are you?" says something about our belief about God (theology).

Are you good or are you very good?

Surprise!

2008-01-21T11:06:00.000-06:00

Hello

2008-01-14T10:08:00.000-06:00

sorry for the poor camera work at the end

You will watch all of this

2008-01-14T10:02:00.000-06:00

More Pictures

2008-01-14T09:10:00.000-06:00

At the end

Bahama Coke

2008-01-11T12:23:00.001-06:00

I spent the week in dry dock at Freeport. We cleaned and repaired the ship from head to toe (or whatever the parts of the ship are called). It was a relaxed week because there were no guests or shows, but I had to do some cleaning everyday. We did a special show just for the crew and they enjoyed it.

I went into town a few times. Port Lucaya is the place to hang out. There was a band there. I helped them sing "Don't worry, be happy." I also had a Coke from the Bahamas. It is a little sweeter like Pepsi.

The ship is back on schedule and we are getting all new guests today. A few of the band members signed off, so there will be a few new members joining today. I will also start my side jobs this week. I will lead kayaking tours around Coco Cay and also sell T-shirts during our day at sea.

I am thinking about getting my scuba diving certification. It is about $300, but it is good for life. I have the day off every Wednesday in Nassau, so I would have lot's of opportunities to scuba dive. They have reefs, dolphins, sharks, ships, and caves that they call "blue holes." What do you think? Should I get my license?

I am having a great time and starting to make some good friends. I will write again soon.

Teachers

2008-01-11T12:17:00.000-06:00

Most people do not like to teach others. It takes time and energy. they expect others to know things, especially things that they themselves already know (and have learned from another teacher). They do not take time to teach others and become impatient. When you ask a question or make a mistake they blame you. this shows that they do not value the learning process. People must be given a chance to learn.

Teachers are patient. They help others to learn. They guide, instruct, and correct. They are forgiving because they understand the learning process. They do not assume, but they try to understand. To assume means to act as if you know something without having learned it. To understand is to know by learning.

No matter what line of work you are in, you must be a teacher.

Pictures!

2008-01-04T08:50:00.000-06:00

Finally, I was able to upload some pictures. Here they are...

Side jobs

2008-01-04T08:38:00.000-06:00

As a musician on the ship I have a lot of free time. While I have enjoyed this time the first few weeks, I am needed some things to do in order to fill up my day. I don't want to watch repeat movies (some guys have watched Elf 20 times!) or take naps (although sometimes they are nice). So I have two side jobs. First, I am doing kayak tours as a chase. Basically I bring up the tail end of the tour and help anyone that is struggling. I am also selling T-shirts. While this doesn't seem like a great job, I really enjoy it. I like meeting and talking with the guests. As a musician I do not get out much (I'm either on stage or in the pit). So I really enjoy this chance for social interaction. Plus it pays! I get a workout, some sun, some water, and money. How's that for a side job?

Dry Dock

2008-01-04T08:35:00.001-06:00

I will be going into dry dock for a week. This means that the ship will not be cruising. We will be stationed in Freeport. They are going to be doing a lot of maintenance work to the ship. Since there are no guests, I will not be playing any shows, but I have fire watch duty. If I see a fire, I have to extinguish it. Fun! So it will kind of be like a week off, except I'm in Freeport. I wish I could stay home for this week. I'm looking forward to reading and practicing and running. I hope to explore Freeport a little too.

Football

2007-12-31T13:12:00.000-06:00

I played football (soccer) the other day at Nassau. The Sovereign of the Seas team played the Nassau National Team. It was humiliating. We were just a bunch of crew members who enjoyed the game. This was a professional team who was in training. The final score was 9-0. The world takes football very seriously. You do not just go out and play. They had a very nice articial field, but it was very hot and the sun was very intense. Next time we are going to play against another cruise ship crew. This will be more evenly matched.

World Tour?

2007-12-31T09:53:00.000-06:00

On the cruise ship there are 800+ crew from 57 different countries. I talk with people everyday from different parts of the world. I eat foods from diffrenent countries for lunch and dinner. While I am not actually traveling to the countries themselves, and I am definitely experiencing the culture. Most people hang out with people from their own country. But I don't like hanging out with the Americans because they are not friendly and selfish. I am getting to know some people from China. I enjoy talking with people in broken English. It is like talking and trying to find the right word that we share and have in common. I guess this is what communication is...finding the words to share what we have in common. I have had some great conversations about family, school, and the Bible. Why is it that I can have a more meaningful conversation with people from another culture and language then I can with my own? People in from other countries value people and friendship much more. I am learning this value and learning to truly enjoy and welcome others.

New Experiences

2007-12-28T11:20:00.000-06:00

I was reflecting today on my experience thus far being on the cruise ship. It has been a great experience and I am looking forward to the remaining time. But it has been an adjustment and uncomfortable at times. I think this is natural with any new experience. And often it is the feelings of discomfort or uncertainty that prevent us from going in to new experiences. It feels like beginning college, which felt like beginning high school, which was kind of like middle school, and do you remember your first day of school? All of the excitement mixed with anxiety. It is difficult going to a new place, meeting new people, and trying new things. Most of us avoid this situation. But I must stress that it is through "Getting out there" (this is Royal Caribbean's message to guests), is so important to our growth and development. It is hard at first, but it is through new experiences that we learn. I challenge you to "get out there" and try something new this week. Please post a comment and let me know what you tried.

GOLD Anchor Standards

2007-12-28T11:11:00.000-06:00

I am learning a lot about the Royal Caribbean company and brand. I wanted to share two thoughts that I think apply to all of us who work with people (I think that's all of us).

The GOLD standards are as follows:
Greet and smile
Own the problem
Look the part
Deliver the wow

These are the standards the RC employees strive for. These are what distinguish RC service from other cruise companies. I want to highlight to in particular that I think are so important.

First, own the problem. I cannot tell you the number of times I have experienced businesses who do not own the problems of their customers. I think this reflects a very corporate (maybe that is not the right word) business model. Large companies in particular do not care about their customers. If you have a problem, then it is your problem. The company could care less if it gets solved. I wish this would change. I think companies need to adopt a family (as opposed to corporate) business model. In a family, if a child (customer) has a problem, the parent (company) does not say, "Well, that's not my problem. I'm sorry, there is nothing I can do." No. The parent does everything they can to solve the problem.

Second, and most importantly, I think is delivering the wow. There are so many companies and businesses who are selling the same product or providing the same service. Delivering the wow is what sets one company apart from all the rest.

I hope you enjoy these insights from the RC philosophy. I hope you will take a cruise with RC and experience these!

Schedule

2007-12-28T10:26:00.000-06:00

I thought I'd give you a quick look at what my schedule is like...

Monday
We leave Port Canaveral on Monday around 5:00pm. I am free all day to relax, read, study, call home, and use the internet. I have to be back on the ship at 4:00 for the passenger safety drill. I have two welcome aboard shows that night.

Tuesday
The entire day is spent at the island of Coco Cay. This is our own private island, with a number of activities. I enjoy walking around the island and having lunch there (they do a big cookout). Soon I will be working doing jet skis and kayaking tours during the day. That night we do a production show called "Flashback." If you come to the ship, you will enjoy this show. We do two shows back to back, and then a big band set that night, inviting guests to swing dance.

Wednesday
This is my day off. The entire day is spent in Nassau. I enjoy running down the beach (although it is kind of dirty). I'm hoping to do some scuba diving here soon. I'm also looking at the shop stands selling bahama stuff to bring back. Yah mahn...

Thursday
This is our day at sea. This is one of my favorite days. I enjoy reading on the back deck and running on the top deck. In the afternoon we have a dodgeball tournament between the Sovereign Crew and the guests. It is a lot of fun, a little painful though. It amazes me how we start cheat during a game of dodgeball. At night we do our second production show "Dancin' through the Movies," back to back. Then we do a jazz set. This is my favorite set because it is a combo and we do a lot of improvisation. Every set is different.

Friday
Back in Port Canaveral for the day. I have the boat drill at 4 and two welcome aboard shows at night.

Saturday
Back to Nassau...our time is shorter during the day, but we set sail at midnight with a night party. We do two performances of "Flashback."

Sunday
This day is spent at Coco Cay. I can't think of a nicer place to spend a Sunday. There is a straw market here and on Sunday's there is a radio preacher playing in most of the shops. I heard a woman preacher who kept going on and on about we are the righteousness of God...over and over, with a lot of intensity, screaming and sweating. Very different preaching style.

In sum, I work about 20 hours a week max. I spend the rest of my time reading, practicing, and running. I also listen to podcasts and albums on my ipod. I've been spending more time talking with people as I am getting to know them. I also try to find some time to be quiet. It is very hard when there is so much to do. It is a good discipline though. At night I enjoy hanging out with the crew on the back deck. I play chess with some German people...I lose big time! I'm trying to teach some people how to play Euchre...nobody knows the game. I'm also learning some other card games from around the world. I'll teach you when I get home!

I am really enjoying my time. I am learning and growing as this is what I really want to have from this time. It feels like a paid vacation in some ways. It's great. Most importantly, it is giving me time to cultivate the rhythms and disciplines that I want in my life. I encourage you to find time for these. I have it easy because I have so much time...but they are very important for shaping you and continuing your personal growth.

Christmas

2007-12-26T20:17:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas! Yesterday was very difficult. It did not feel like Christmas, even with the music, trees, presents, hats, etc...all of it seemed empty without my family. I missed getting up in the morning, the excitement of opening presents, the jokes between me and my brother, even fighting with my sister! I did have some chocolates left over from my plane trip...so I opened those like I would my stocking and ate several pieces of chocolate for breakfast. That made it feel a little more like Christmas. Here's how my day went...

That morning, Santa landed his sleigh on the island of Coco Cay. We had to send a lifeboat out to pick him up and bring him to the ship. Families and kids gathered as Santa boarded the ship. I played "Here Comes Santa Clause" and "Jingle Bells" with the sax and trumpet players to announce his arrival.

After this I went back to my room and spent some time in quiet reading the story of Jesus' birth. I read it several times. Then I listened to a sermon by Rob Bell from a few Christmas' ago. It was titled "God in the Straw" and was about finding God in the places we least expect him. If God would come as a baby and be born in a horse trough filled with straw, he will most definitely come and meet us in our place of deepest need, in the darkness, the dirt, the insecurity, the loneliness, the hard times. I was comforted by this story. As the day went on my spirit lifted.

The crew was invited to a special Christmas dinner at the top level of the cruise ship. This is usually only for guests, but they closed it tonight and made it open to the crew only. It was a very nice dinner and made me feel more at home.

That night we did a special Christmas show for the guests. It went really well and several of the guests came to us afterwards and thanked us. This really meant a lot. Several of them recognized that we are working hard for them on the holiday. I saw on the news that over 50% of people will travel for the holidays. In order for this to be possible, it requires that some people give up their time and family so that others can enjoy the time off and be with those they love.

Then we had a Christmas party on the back crew deck. They took a life raft, layered it with ice, and filled it with beer, wine, and pop. We also had a DJ. I must say this was unlike any Christmas party I had ever had. I stayed for awhile, but I was tired from the long day and went to bed about 1:00am.

I made the most of the day. I though about my family often. I miss you guys. Not only that, but I feel like I can't communicate to you how much I care about you. I wish I could give you gifts to show you. I hope you all know that I love you. I am still adjusting to being away. It is hard. Please pray for me. Today, even more than ever, I learned the importance of family and love.

I would really enjoy reading your comments about how Christmas was for you. Please share with me your stories.

Week 1

2007-12-22T20:28:00.000-06:00

Ah, I finally made it to the internet. The company is allowing free internet use from now until January 2nd so that people can get in touch with their families. After that I will have to figure out how to buy minutes.

I hope to post about once a week. The internet is too slow to post pictures, so you will just have to read and use your imagination. Everyday is sunny, blue skies, warm, and breezy. When I'm in port their are palm trees everywhere and lot's of other ships. When I'm out at see it is completely open. The air is clearer and crisper...you can smell and taste the ocean in it. It is very hard to complain because the weather is so beautiful. The conditions are almost always the same with very little change. This makes talking about the weather non existent...unlike Indiana.

I am adjusting well. It is a very similar experience to moving in to the dorms for the first time. I've done some wandering around the ship in order to find my way around. Its pretty simple. But the 6th floor disappears at one end of the ship. That was a little confusing. The food is like dorm food, except every meal has food from a variety of cultures...I've enjoyed Indian, Chinese, Mexican...and I've had Caribbean everything (chicken, beef, pork). Lot's of flavor and lot's of spice.

I've made some friends that have helped show me around. My roomate is very nice. He took me into Nassau. We walked to the big hotel and shopping center, had a $6 slice of pizza and $3 can of Coke! Ouch. I won't be eating there much. He also told me about this church that has a ministry to people on ships. They come pick you up at port, take you to their place for worship, feed you, let you use internet to talk with family. I have not been ministered to in this way before, and I feel very blessed.

The music hasn't been too bad. We do a welcome aboard and a farewell show for every cruise. There are two musicals, one based on music from each decade called Flaskback, and another based on movies. I'm in the back up band for the singers and dancers. They are really great shows...you will want to see them when you come take a cruise.

We also do several jazz sets. I enjoy these the most, especially improvising. There are some really great players in the band...
The sax, trumpet, and drummer are all in their 20s and from the US. The guitar player is from Germany (he's my roomate). The bass player is from Russia...he is very Russian and he plays just like Jaco Pastorious (look him up on youtube). The piano player is from the Philippenes and he has some great keyboard skills. I am learning a lot being surrounded by such great players.

I totaled my hours for the first week: 20. Other jobs on the ship are working 8-12 hour shifts a day! I have got a good gig. In my spare time I practice trombone (learning tunes), run (there is a track at the top of the ship...3.5 laps = 1 mile), and I read, study, and journal.

I've only made it to the island once, but now that I am settled in I will start to get off the ship more. I'm considering getting a side job...selling t-shirts, watching jet skis or kayaks, or helping with the art auction. Please write a comment telling me what job you think I should do. I won't start this until after the new year.

Today I had a long training about all of the security on the ship. It was led by the 1st officer and he made it interesting (very hands on). He took us to the bridge which was very interesting to see. It really is like how they picture it in the movies. Titanic jokes are rampant on the ship.

If you want to know more, just ask a question in the comments. I will answer them next time I'm on. I am in the US port on Fridays and Mondays, so these are the days that I can call and talk to you. But my time is limited on these days because of welcoming new guests on and doing passenger drills.

Talk to you soon.

Kent

Josh Garrels

2007-12-15T21:51:00.001-06:00

Click on the menu for more videos.

Santa and Jesus

2007-12-15T11:06:00.001-06:00

Homemade gift ideas

2007-12-11T18:33:00.001-06:00

If you are looking to give a gift that you have created, try some of these ideas...

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/homemade.php

Ben Stein

2007-12-09T16:01:00.000-06:00

In a scientific world gone mad, EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed is the controversial documentary that will chronicle Ben Stein’s confrontation with the Neo-Darwinian machine, exposing widespread suppression and entrenched discrimination in his heroic quest to bring back freedom in our institutions, laboratories and most importantly, in our classrooms, with the help of the world’s top scientists, educators and thinkers.

Coming to theaters in early 2008, EXPELLED promises to be the most controversial film of the year (think Fahrenheit 9/11 and An Inconvenient Truth).

Education

2007-12-08T18:14:00.000-06:00

The race is not always to the richest...

This is a great article from economist.com about education around the world. If you want a quick glance, just look at the graphs...I hope this will intrigue you to read more.

Cruise Ship

2007-12-07T15:00:00.000-06:00

Well, its official. I will be leaving December 17 to board a Royal Caribbean cruise ship for 6 months. I will be playing trombone on the Sovereign of The Seas...kind of an interesting name of you think about it. Here are a few details if you are interested...

I will live on the ship in a small cabin with a roommate. My day consists of an hour rehearsal in the afternoon and then two 50 minute shows at night. The rest of my time is free to tour the ship, go in on the ports, read, study, pray, workout...I will have a lot of time to do whatever I want. It is an amazing freedom, but also a great responsibility. I am looking forward to it. And I only work 6 days a week, so I will be able to maintain a sabbath of sorts. I wonder if the cruise ship has a church service? I did not see it on the tour of the ship.

It will be tough being gone for such a long time. I am going to miss Christmas and New Years, some birthday's, valentine's day, Easter, some more birthday's, and graduation in the spring (I'm sorry...I will think of you during these times). The hardest part will be staying in touch with people. Cell phones and internet will be limited.

I hope that I can stay in contact with family and friends at least once a week. Hopefully I can get to this blog once a week to post news, thoughts, and pictures.

It is going to be a great experience and will help me to grow not only as a musician but as a person. I believe that I will meet some interesting people that can tell me wonderful stories. I hope that I can be a light to people as well.

Any questions, just ask and I will answer them. I'll go ahead and answer this one before you ask...Sorry, I can't take you with me, but I am going to see about getting a special rate so that you can come visit for a week or something.

I have a week to get ready. I graduate. Take a breath. And set sail.

Bon voyage.

Symbaloo

2007-12-05T15:00:00.001-06:00

This is a very cool start page...everything is at your fingertips.

http://www.symbaloo.com/

Giant Steps

2007-12-05T12:32:00.001-06:00

John Coltrane's Giant Steps...this is really cool.

And this one...

Lion of Judah?

2007-12-01T16:56:00.000-06:00

I wouldn’t consider myself a cat person. I know some people who are and I really don’t understand them. I’ve never liked cats. But a lion or tiger (no bear), now we’re talking. House cats are pampered with their own sleeping bed, canned tuna, and kitty litter (I really don’t know what this is because I’ve never had a cat. I think its like a sandbox, which doesn’t sound very pleasant). But a lion is no house cat. They are wild, dangerous, and wouldn’t be caught dead in a sandbox. Now I don’t know much about lions either (I’ve never owned one), but the lion has become symbolic of certain characteristics…some of them I mentioned above, but a lion (if its on your side, or you are on its side) can protect and provide and is good.

If you’ve seen The Chronicles of Narnia or read The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, you see some of these characteristics in Aslan. People have this mixture of awe, respect and fear towards Aslan. They stand at a distance from him, watching him from afarafraid to get too close. They give him his space. They listen to him. It isn’t until the end when we see little Lucy and Susan approach Aslan that we get close to him. Once they discover that he is good, they trust in him. They come close. They ride on his back. They still maintain this sense of awe, respect, and fear, but they trust Aslan. He is good.

I think we need to recover this sense of God’s character. Too often we domesticate God. We make God a little place to sleep and play, we give him nice little gifts, and I don’t know how to tie kitty litter into anything. But we treat God like he is a house cat. We take this big, Lion of a God, an make him little. We then try to protect and provide for this little God of ours. God is no house cat. God is wild and dangerous. But he is good. He protects and he provides, not us. We need to regain this sense of awe, respect, and fear of God. And we need to remind ourselves that God is good. He is not safe, he cannot be controlled, but he can be trusted with our lives.

Christmas

2005-12-03T22:28:00.000-06:00

It's that time of year, and I have such mixed feelings. The holiday is nice - being off from school, at home with the family, visiting old friends. And everybody enjoys getting presents and cards. But it all seems kind of strange. I have this list of people and I've been trying to figure out what to get them for Christmas. And its hard...how much should I spend? Is this too much or too little? Will they even like this? I think when we ask ourselves these questions, we are really missing the point. My problem is how well I know the people on my list (i.e. family and friends). When you know people, you don't really need to ask what they want. We spend all year forgetting to talk with people, sometimes we even mean to, but fail...and then Christmas rolls around and we're suddenly in a rush to talk with them, so that we can get them the right present, so they will be happy with us until next year. I don't want to feel like that. I don't want Christmas to be one of those Hallmark holidays, where its an excuse to be nice to people...I think that Jesus was around way before Hallmark. But I want to go beyond thinking about gifts and actually think about the person. So this year I'm not going to ask anyone what they want for Christmas (starting now of course). Don't worry, I'll still be getting gifts! I'm going to do my best and consider what I know about you to choose gifts. And we'll see how they turn out. If I get the look of "Ugh, you shouldn't have...no really, you shouldn't have" or "Thanks" muttered through the teeth of a cheesy smile...well, I guess I don't know you as well as I thought. But if I do well, even decent, then please let me know. Happy holidays!

Why I like diners...

2005-12-02T22:45:00.000-06:00

I went to Sunshine Cafe last night around 9:00pm. It was great. First of all, there's no better meal than breakfast at night...eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, and cups of coffee...the later, the better. Second, I went with two great friends. As we sat down and squeezed in to a booth, I realized how awesome this was. A group of people sitting down to eat and talk. Now, eating is one of our most basic needs. But I think that conversation is just as necessary. And I had been starving for a conversation like that, and last night my stomach and my heart were satisfied. Its times like these where you discover more of yourself and true friendship. Thanks friends.