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Lincoln Brewster Contest

So I want to enter the Lincoln Brewster guitar contest. Check the rules – only continental US residents. Grr. What’s up with that. It’s not like the grand prize is a new Strat or something. Anyway, I’ve decided to submit it anyway along with a note stating that I am not a US resident and that, even though that may disqualify me, I’d love it if they judged it anyway.

There were two options: 1) copy Lincoln’s solo and be judged on accuracy (never in my limited skill set), or 2) devise your own solo and be judged on creativity (now there’s some hope). So I opted for #2. I love improvisation anyway and it gives me a chance to work up my chops a bit.

Funny thing is, some of the ideas in my head don’t translate as well in my hands as I’d like. That’s what lack of consistent practice does. Consequently, some of this is a bit choppy. But I like the ideas I’ve come up with. I feel like it’s a good combination of melodic movement and unique guitar ideas.

Here’s the youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_cKO2EstBw

My favourite parts are the pinky hammer-on at 0:17, the simple melodic phrase and pause at 0:19, the combination of sliding arpeggios at 0:29, and the harmonic hammer-on at the last note. Have a look. Share it with your guitar playing buddies and pick it apart or praise it.

Army Photo of My Dad

I thought I would post a recollection of my Dad’s recounting of his day of capture in World War II. If memory serves me right it was April 29, 1945. Much of Germany had been pushed back but there were many pockets of soldiers still fighting.

My dad was a private fighting in northern Germany at the time with the Regiment Maisonneuve. He was entering a city (I believe it was Bremen) when his group walked into an ambush. They withdrew into a shed. However, their commanding officer was killed in the skirmish. There was also a gentleman that was hit with a phosphorus grenade. My dad described the awful feeling he had, listening to the man cry out in agony as he slowly burned to death overnight while holed up in that shed. Snipers had their sites on the spot so no one could venture out to help.

There was now no commanding officer in the group – all privates. After waiting overnight, they decided to put out a white flag and surrender. My dad, along with his comrades in arms, was taken prisoner and kept in a nearby barn. His food rations were two two slices of (mostly mouldy) bread and a glass of water per day.

Click to Enlarge

Ten days later, the war ended.

One single story brings to life for me the depth of effect war has on people. I can still sense the emotion in my dad’s face and voice when he recounted the story to me.

On this Rememberance Day, stop and think about the horrors that other men and women have endured for our freedom. Even those who never were on the front lines made great sacrifices as part of a national team of people united in preserving freedom and, ultimately, peace.

Thank you to all the veterans for your place in Canada’s great history.

P.S. I welcome the family members to add clarification or missing details of this story.

Ten Years Gone

Today marks the tenth anniversary of my dad’s passing. Wow. Ten years goes by quickly. It’s amazing how something can seem so far away and so close at the same time. I still find myself missing him – especially when I have a question about something. He was such a smart man. I’m sure that if he had been given the opprotunity for an education, he would have become an engineer or something. Unfortunately, he lived in a time when he didn’t even make it to high school.

He lived through the great depression in a large, impoverished family. He lived through and fought in World War II. He married and fathered five children. He worked many years at the now defunct Atlas Steels.

He gave his life to Jesus Christ in 1968 (9?).

He faithfully served at the the church I currently pastor, helping in many ways and running the recording and duplication department (cassette anyone?).

He was a man who stood by his convictions – even when they made no sense to anyone else.

I still think back to the stories he told of his experiences in the war – the sadness of lost friends, the deep fear in battle, the food he shared with his fellow POW.

I’ve posted the video of the slideshow presented at his funeral here.

Pa, you are stilled missed.

With love and honour.

Marc (ton fiston)

November is prostate cancer awareness month. Every year over 4,400 men die as a direct result of prostate cancer in Canada.

To help raise awareness and raise funds, Doug Moore has formed Team WellSpring and joined the Movember group. All participants are growing moustaches for the month in recognition of this worthy cause. You can click this link to donate online using your credit card or PayPal account.

If you want to be a part of Team WellSpring you can click here to join the team and help. But you gotta grow a ‘stache’ to do it (whether male or female).

It’s a bit of a competition so I’d love your donation attached to my profile (in the link).

Let’s all work together to beat this disease!

I’ll post some photo updates as the shadow fills in.

The Talosian Conspiracy

Most people who know me are aware that I’m quite a Star Trek fan. I grew up watching the original series and have enjoyed a few of the other series as well (TNG, Voyager & a bit of DS9). I own all but two of the movies.

There is a particular episode (The Menagerie) that got me thinking about our present society and the talk I gave this past Sunday (October 17, 2010) from the book of James (watch/listen on line here). In the episode we discover the Talosians, a race of beings that have so evolved mentally that they communicate telepathically. However, their weakened physical state makes it impossible to live on their own. They need others to do the work for them. Getting smarter did not make them stronger.

There is no strength without resistance. There is no victory without a battle. There is no miracle without a crisis. We want strength, victory and miracles. But we don’t want resistance, battles, and crises.

James 1:2-12 talks about the pressures and challenges we face in life and how they are intended to build our perseverance. We can all persevere somewhat for what we want, but do we persevere for what we need?

How much are we like the Talosians – thinking we’re smarter but having little strength to build a life worth living?

“Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4

Getting what we want doesn’t make us complete. Having the character and fortitude to persevere does.

Believing – What Vs. Who

What do you believe about…? People often ask that question. It can cover just about any topic. Some carry great weight in our lives – some, little. What do you believe about the health benefits of vegetarian pizza? What do you believe about reality TV? What do you believe about marriage? What do you believe about God? The range is vast.

All these questions are more a statement of position than anything else. We live most of our lives out of what we believe. However, this kind of believing might not always move you to action. What do you believe about underprivileged people in third world countries? But, do you do anything about it?

Enter the relationship factor: Who do you believe? This is an entirely different question. It implies a greater level of trust than just a statement of position. This question shows how you respond to that person. It is a relational faith.

When we were young, we believed our parents, our teachers, our siblings (at least the older ones), and often our friends. I was quite naive as a boy. I believed pretty well anything people told me. That made me the brunt of many a practical joke. “Try these long skinny red peppers. They’re quite sweet.” The ensuing inferno was not easily quenched! (I now love chili peppers and hot food.)

When you believe someone, you will believe what they tell you. It is a relationship that is based on confidence that the person has your best interest and wellbeing at heart.

So what about God? What do you believe about God? Or, more significantly, do you believe Him? Is your faith simply positional or is it relational?

You can watch/listen to a talk I gave about this entitled Relational Faith.

Family Update

So here’s the latest on the Brulé family.  Wendy and I celebrated 25 years of marriage this past August! I took her on a surprise trip to Europe on a Mediterranean cruise, followed by a drive to Zermatt, Switzerland for some time in the mountains. What a great time we had!

Amy has changed her major to Music! She’s busy at Brock in the music program and loving it. I am so proud of her.

Jonathan started his first year in the Photonics program at Niagara College. He’s loving it too. We love to chat about math and physics. This created a small crisis in my own personal world. You see, I am not only proud of him, but also a bit jealous. I love the stuff he’s studying. I said to him last week, “Up until now I have known as much as, or more, than you about anything and everything. Now, for the first time in my life, you will know more about something than me. That’s weird but also cool.”

Adam is now in Grade 8. He is at the top of the totem pole in his school. He continues to be a great student. He’s also progressing well in playing bass. Adam has started playing on the worship team on an occasional basis.

As for me, I continue seeing great things in my family and am so thankful to God for it. We love being together, have great laughs, and share a great family bond.

Thank you Wendy, Amy, Jonathan, and Adam for being who you are.

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