<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707</id><updated>2011-11-15T00:16:11.015-06:00</updated><category term='7in7'/><title type='text'>Thoughts From My Brain</title><subtitle type='html'>...and stuff</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>38</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-445594217543555316</id><published>2011-11-14T23:12:00.003-06:00</published><updated>2011-11-15T00:16:11.045-06:00</updated><title type='text'>7in7 - Day 5 "The Train to See the Lord"</title><content type='html'>&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;My mom is the daughter of a souther baptist preacher and we grew up either watching the Gaither's on TV. Somehow, I think that's where this song came from. Thanks, mom...and Bill. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;Also, thanks to Cara Scott for doing the harmonies. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;object height="81" width="100%"&gt; &lt;param name="movie" value="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F28046315"&gt; &lt;param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"&gt; &lt;embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="https://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F28046315" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt; &lt;/object&gt;  &lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10/7in7-day-5-the-train-to-see"&gt;7in7 Day 5 - "The Train to See the Lord"&lt;/a&gt; by &lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10"&gt;alan_land_10&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Jesus, I was a sinner with no hope&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Upon me your wrath was to be poured&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;The could’ve got me but instead you bought me&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;A ticket on that train to see the Lord&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Jesus, you bought my ticket long ago&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;The ticket I never could afford&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;I didn’t deserve it and sure didn’t earn it&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;That ticket on the train to see the Lord&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;The train, the train&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;The morning train&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;That train to see the Lord&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;The train, the train&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;The glory train&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;That train you take to kingdom come&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Jesus, won’t you forgive me of my sins&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;The ones I said I would do no more&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;I just can’t stand it, I took it for granted&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;My ticket on that train to see the Lord&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;The train, the train&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;The morning train&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;That train to see the Lord&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;The train, the train&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;The glory train&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;That train you take to kingdom come&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;One day we’ll hear that whistle loud and clear&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Next stop, God’s celestial shore&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;There he’ll be standing and that’s when I’ll hand in&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;My ticket on that train to see the Lord&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;The train, the train&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;The morning train&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;That train to see the Lord&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;The train, the train&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;The glory train&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;That train you take to kingdom come&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-445594217543555316?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/445594217543555316/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2011/11/7in7-day-5-train-to-see-lord.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/445594217543555316'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/445594217543555316'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2011/11/7in7-day-5-train-to-see-lord.html' title='7in7 - Day 5 &quot;The Train to See the Lord&quot;'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-261704698785356885</id><published>2011-11-13T23:57:00.003-06:00</published><updated>2011-11-14T00:09:06.141-06:00</updated><title type='text'>7in7 - Day 4 "Fill It Up"</title><content type='html'>&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;This one is called "Fill It Up" and it was inspired by my backyard. The concept is filling up these dried out places with memories or ideas, or what have you, through stories or songs or poems, or what have you. Eventually, you pour out too much and your heart is dried up. So, you have to fill it up with brand new memories. I hope you enjoy and that it makes you feel something.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;object height="81" width="100%"&gt; &lt;param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F27961585"&gt; &lt;param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"&gt; &lt;embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F27961585" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt; &lt;/object&gt;  &lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10/7in7-day-4-flood-of-memories"&gt;7in7 - Day 4 "Flood of Memories"&lt;/a&gt; by &lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10"&gt;alan_land_10&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Walk out the back door and through the yard&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Make your way through the silent crowd of trees&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;You’ll come up on an old rusty car&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Make a left and find a dried up creek&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;It’s been empty way too long&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;So tell a story or sing a song&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;And fill it up with a flood&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Fill it up with a flood of memories&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Walk out on that wooden bridge&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;High above where the water used to run&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;From a pond atop the ridge&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Before it was swallowed by the warm relentless sun&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Hang your feet off of the side&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Over the creek that’s dead and dried&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;And fill it up with a flood&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Fill it up with a flood of memories&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Now you’re like the streams before you filled them up&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Your heart is empty, you’ve poured out way too much&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;So fill it up with a flood&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Fill it up, a flood of brand new memories&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-261704698785356885?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/261704698785356885/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2011/11/7in7-day-4-fill-it-up.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/261704698785356885'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/261704698785356885'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2011/11/7in7-day-4-fill-it-up.html' title='7in7 - Day 4 &quot;Fill It Up&quot;'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-6987707142412333820</id><published>2011-11-12T21:38:00.003-06:00</published><updated>2011-11-12T21:46:19.327-06:00</updated><title type='text'>7in7 - Day 3 "50 Years"</title><content type='html'>Today I was thinking how cool it would be to randomly run into the future version of yourself walking down the street or something. So, I thought this might be a few of the things the 70-something version of me would say to the present day version of me.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;object height="81" width="100%"&gt; &lt;param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F27876519"&gt; &lt;param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"&gt; &lt;embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F27876519" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt; &lt;/object&gt;  &lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10/7in7-day-3-50-years"&gt;7in7 Day 3 - "50 Years"&lt;/a&gt; by &lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10"&gt;alan_land_10&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;I haven’t seen your face since over 50 years ago&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;One day you’ll meet me in the mirror a couple decades down the road&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Time will teach you lessons, time will teach you how to live&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Now you’re a great receiver, but time will teach you how to give&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;I know it sounds improbable&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;You learn the hard way most of the time&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;To be back in your shoes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;To be back where you are&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;To live it all again, I’d give most anything&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;50 years from where you are&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;every joy and broken heart&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;I’d live it all again, and not change anything&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;She’s gorgeous No she doesn’t seem to change&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;You grow weak and weary and her beauty stays the same&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;But trust me nothing compares to her walking the aisle&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Both your faces beaming, the taste of joyful tears on your smile&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;I know it seems impossible&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;But you fall more in love than you are right now&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-6987707142412333820?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/6987707142412333820/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2011/11/7in7-day-3-50-years.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/6987707142412333820'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/6987707142412333820'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2011/11/7in7-day-3-50-years.html' title='7in7 - Day 3 &quot;50 Years&quot;'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-4780218891865639667</id><published>2011-11-11T22:29:00.003-06:00</published><updated>2011-11-11T23:01:54.518-06:00</updated><title type='text'>7in7 - Day 2 "I Took and Ate"</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"&gt;Here is Day 2. It's called "I Took and Ate" and it's a familiar story. I usually write &lt;/span&gt;some verses, a &lt;span class="Apple-style-span"&gt;chorus, and a bridge maybe but that just didn't happen this time. I am ok with that. I am pretty sure this song came from discussing "Paradise Lost" in Brit Lit today. After class, I couldn't stop thinking about The Fall, my depravity and need for Jesus.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;object height="81" width="100%"&gt; &lt;param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F27805664"&gt; &lt;param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"&gt; &lt;embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F27805664" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt; &lt;/object&gt;  &lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10/i-took-and-i-ate"&gt;I took and I ate&lt;/a&gt; by &lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10"&gt;alan_land_10&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;I woke up a bit dusty. My lungs full of breath.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;All creation was singing I kept the beat in my chest.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;I roared with the lions, I sang with the birds.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;I screamed from the mountains, but nobody heard.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;I spoke with the maker. He said “it is good.”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;When he put me to sleep when I woke there she stood.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;My house was a garden, the backyard was the world&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;I swam naked in oceans with my beautiful girl&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;I spoke with the maker. He said “Isn’t it good?.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Just don’t mess with that tree there not even for firewood.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Then one day a rumor, I heard from a snake&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;“The maker’s a liar, he didn’t fully create.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;you know you could be just like Him a knowledge attained&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Just bite and taste and eat. One rule disobeyed.”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;God, You say that you love us. We faithfully serve. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;If this is true, in your selfish greed you held back the glory we deserve&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;And for a minute it was sweet&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Until our shameful retreat&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Our eyes had been open&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;We’ve betrayed the one we hope in&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;I was deceived. I took and I ate.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Now I deceive. Full of lust and I hate who I am, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;so much shame&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;There’s hope for everyone&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;Thank God there’s hope in Your son&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-4780218891865639667?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/4780218891865639667/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2011/11/7in7-day-2-i-took-and-ate.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/4780218891865639667'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/4780218891865639667'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2011/11/7in7-day-2-i-took-and-ate.html' title='7in7 - Day 2 &quot;I Took and Ate&quot;'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-2531035220457303451</id><published>2011-11-10T22:16:00.002-06:00</published><updated>2011-11-10T22:21:35.704-06:00</updated><title type='text'>7in7 - Day 1 "Slow Down"</title><content type='html'>&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;Well, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; "&gt;I am not proud of it but &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; "&gt;here is the first one. The sound quality sucks. Get used to it because it's not getting any better.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;object height="81" width="100%"&gt; &lt;param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F27720838"&gt; &lt;param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"&gt; &lt;embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F27720838" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt; &lt;/object&gt;  &lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10/7in7-day-1-slow-down"&gt;7in7 Day 1 - Slow Down&lt;/a&gt; by &lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10"&gt;alan_land_10&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;We’re wasting our lives if our schedule isn’t full and bursting at the seams &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;We’re burning daylight and burning money because that’s what time is, supposedly&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;We can’t move fast enough&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;We can’t move fast enough&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;We walk with our minds glued to our plans spontaneity&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;is a dream we had when we were kids before responsibility&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;We cannot plan enough&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;We can’t move fast enough &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;I just want to slow down a minute&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;I just want to slow down a bit &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;So much on my mind, the train of thought has finally derailed&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;The thought of rest is so far gone  I know that ship has sailed&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;I can’t think loud enough  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;I can’t think loud enough&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;I just want to slow down a minute&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;I just want to slow down a bit&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;I just want to slow down a minute&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;I just want to slow down a bit&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;I’m running here and I’m running there&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;Running late and running scared&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;Running hard and getting run down&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;I’m running out of excuses now&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;I just want to slow down a minute&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;I just want to slow down a bit&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;I just want to slow down a minute&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"&gt;I just want to slow down a bit&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-2531035220457303451?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/2531035220457303451/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2011/11/7in7-day-1-slow-down.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2531035220457303451'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2531035220457303451'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2011/11/7in7-day-1-slow-down.html' title='7in7 - Day 1 &quot;Slow Down&quot;'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-6873724532199301484</id><published>2011-11-09T10:05:00.006-06:00</published><updated>2011-11-09T10:44:47.128-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='7in7'/><title type='text'>I just want you to feel something.</title><content type='html'>Well, friends, tomorrow marks the beginning of 7in7, a week of songwriting for me and over 300 other folks. &lt;a href="http://aaronivey.com/?p=12644"&gt;7in7&lt;/a&gt; is a songwriting exercise. Seven songs in seven days. Finish writing a brand new song everyday. &lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Now, the goal here is not to write  bunch of great or even good songs. It's just to stretch the creative muscle and develop some discipline for writing everyday. It would be stupid to think that someone could just pump out seven incredible songs in seven consecutive days so I am not expecting a whole lot. Neither should you. Especially if you followed my progress last year. Hopefully, I can be graced with one or maybe two songs that don't completely shame my existence. One or two that I can share with someone down the road and it be mutually beneficial.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;My plan for this week is to try to balance writing completely for/from myself and writing for the listener. What I write will absolutely be an overflow of my heart in some way but I am hoping to keep the listener in mind as well. My hope is that it would be real and relatable. I just want you to feel something. I want you to sing along. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I attempted this last year and posted almost every song (the 7th never found it's way to the internet) on this very blog and I plan to do the same starting tomorrow. Let's see what happens. If you follow the progress, let me know what you think. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-6873724532199301484?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/6873724532199301484/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-just-want-you-to-feel-something.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/6873724532199301484'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/6873724532199301484'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-just-want-you-to-feel-something.html' title='I just want you to feel something.'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-6578409069558131831</id><published>2011-11-07T20:24:00.009-06:00</published><updated>2011-11-07T21:03:09.109-06:00</updated><title type='text'>I Try to Keep My Eyes Alert and Open</title><content type='html'>&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"&gt;After 15 months of driving back and forth to Waco, the time spent driving seems to go by a lot slower than the time spent with her.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"&gt;For real songs by real song-writers/musicians click &lt;a href="http://www.davidramirezmusic.com/"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; or &lt;a href="http://aaronivey.com/"&gt;this&lt;/a&gt; or &lt;a href="http://rooseveltband.com/"&gt;that&lt;/a&gt; or &lt;a href="http://noisetrade.com/katiehoulette"&gt;whatever&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-5bbf3b1789922133" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"&gt;&lt;param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player"&gt;&lt;param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"&gt;&lt;param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"&gt;&lt;param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=http://v20.nonxt2.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D5bbf3b1789922133%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1329915414%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D2C3F4D101C96EAD7E8C5CAC455049CBFD5D5EDAE.4D3A9D03EE1F26C118479AA34F4E9178870CA37F%26key%3Dck1&amp;amp;iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D5bbf3b1789922133%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DC7DvPkdVxLj2mKhquXfR4zPqr-I&amp;amp;autoplay=0&amp;amp;ps=blogger"&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"flashvars="flvurl=http://v20.nonxt2.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D5bbf3b1789922133%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1329915414%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D2C3F4D101C96EAD7E8C5CAC455049CBFD5D5EDAE.4D3A9D03EE1F26C118479AA34F4E9178870CA37F%26key%3Dck1&amp;iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3D5bbf3b1789922133%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DC7DvPkdVxLj2mKhquXfR4zPqr-I&amp;autoplay=0&amp;ps=blogger"allowFullScreen="true" /&gt;&lt;/object&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="  ;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" &gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"  style="  ;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" &gt;&lt;b&gt;You're the Destination&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;I think these tires have almost rolled&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;over every inch of this old road&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;I swear that I could make the drive with my eyes closed&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 12px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;As I pass each mile marker&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;the numbers on them keep getting smaller&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;but I wonder why you and I don’t seem much closer&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 12px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;from sea to shining sea&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;i’m stuck in the driver’s seat&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;feels like I’m going clear across the nation&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 12px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;40 miles aint that far&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;and it should take this long&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;so much further when your the destination&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 12px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;It seems like days but I am on my way&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 12px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;the right hand lane’s way too slow&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;but there’s danger in the left I know&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;start to pass and go too fast and before I know it&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 12px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;I glance up in my rear-view&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;the night lit up with red and blue&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;I cuss then pray for a little grace and that he’ll show it&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 12px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;from sea to shining sea&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;i’m stuck in the driver’s seat&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;feels like I’m going clear across the nation&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 12px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;40 miles aint that far&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;and it should take this long&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;so much further when your the destination&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 12px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;It seems like days but I am on my way&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 12px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Until I get there&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;until we’re face to face&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;time moves lazily and slow&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 12px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Once I’m with you&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;he promptly quickens his pace&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;time flies and it’s time to go&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;I hate when it’s time to go&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 12px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;get to making my way back home&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;burning gas on an empty road&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;I try and try to keep my eyes alert and open&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 12px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;Stayed much longer than I ought&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;even more exhausted than I thought&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;I fight and fight to keep my eyes alert and open&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 12px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;from sea to shining sea&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;i’m stuck in the driver’s seat&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;feels like I’m going clear across the nation&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 12px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;40 miles aint that far&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;and it should take this long&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;so much further when your the destination&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 12px; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"&gt;It seems like days but I am on my way&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica; "&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"&gt;Thanks for listening/reading all the way through. I hope it made you feel something.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-6578409069558131831?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/6578409069558131831/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-try-to-keep-my-eyes-alert-and-open.html#comment-form' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/6578409069558131831'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/6578409069558131831'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-try-to-keep-my-eyes-alert-and-open.html' title='I Try to Keep My Eyes Alert and Open'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-1984674125044266527</id><published>2011-02-24T01:18:00.006-06:00</published><updated>2011-02-24T10:10:38.401-06:00</updated><title type='text'>February, you're killing me</title><content type='html'>Here's the deal.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;February has been eating my lunch since the day January left. So I wrote a song.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;object width="320" height="266" class="BLOG_video_class" id="BLOG_video-e2758ebc1a3b51a8" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"&gt;&lt;param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/get_player"&gt;&lt;param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"&gt;&lt;param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"&gt;&lt;param name="flashvars" value="flvurl=http://v19.nonxt1.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3De2758ebc1a3b51a8%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1329915414%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D15A1086ADD1E26D60A689DB1E0F9E314955CC29B.71136FA39B762BAE1DD88C7AAB6A75A8BAF75EE9%26key%3Dck1&amp;amp;iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3De2758ebc1a3b51a8%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DctqTNHmzw4sxGDWNrtdy6Rljsfs&amp;amp;autoplay=0&amp;amp;ps=blogger"&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.youtube.com/get_player" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"width="320" height="266" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"flashvars="flvurl=http://v19.nonxt1.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3De2758ebc1a3b51a8%26itag%3D5%26app%3Dblogger%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1329915414%26sparams%3Did,itag,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D15A1086ADD1E26D60A689DB1E0F9E314955CC29B.71136FA39B762BAE1DD88C7AAB6A75A8BAF75EE9%26key%3Dck1&amp;iurl=http://video.google.com/ThumbnailServer2?app%3Dblogger%26contentid%3De2758ebc1a3b51a8%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw160%26sigh%3DctqTNHmzw4sxGDWNrtdy6Rljsfs&amp;autoplay=0&amp;ps=blogger"allowFullScreen="true" /&gt;&lt;/object&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;-February-&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Responsibility is somewhere in the fog&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Everything I need is absolutely nowhere at all&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It's hard to see straight when the world has caught your eye&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It's hard to think straight when you've looked but cannot find your mind&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;February, you maybe short and sweet&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;February, you're killing me&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Sanity is dripping like water from my hands&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Stacks of thought in mind leaning like pillars built on sand&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It's hard to see straight when the world has caught your eye&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It's hard to think straight when you've looked but cannot find your mind&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "&gt; &lt;/span&gt;February, you maybe short and sweet&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "&gt; &lt;/span&gt;February, you're killing me&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Don't you come around here any time real soon&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;If you come around again it better be 11 months before you do&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "&gt; &lt;/span&gt;February, you maybe short and sweet&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "&gt; &lt;/span&gt;February, you're killing me&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;28 days never seemed so long&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-1984674125044266527?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/1984674125044266527/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2011/02/february-youre-killing-me.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/1984674125044266527'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/1984674125044266527'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2011/02/february-youre-killing-me.html' title='February, you&apos;re killing me'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-3828341314364807375</id><published>2010-11-17T15:51:00.004-06:00</published><updated>2010-11-17T16:01:55.374-06:00</updated><title type='text'>7in7 - Day 6 "My Unbelief"</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;&lt;object height="81" width="100%"&gt; &lt;param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F7125628%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-2OAZk&amp;amp;secret_url=true"&gt;&lt;/param&gt; &lt;param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"&gt;&lt;/param&gt; &lt;embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F7125628%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-2OAZk&amp;amp;secret_url=true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt; &lt;/object&gt;  &lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10/7in7-day-6-my-unbelief/s-2OAZk"&gt;#7in7 Day 6 - "My Unbelief"&lt;/a&gt; by &lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10"&gt;alan_land_10&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;Oh my God I say I love you &lt;div&gt;With head bowed and eyes closed&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Oh my God I say I trust you&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I go outside and prove that I don't&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Father, help my unbelief&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;I say I'm selfless, I say I live for you&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;I've seen you working, I know I've seen you move&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;I read your word and know that it's the truth&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Still, I don't trust you&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Oh my God I say I love you &lt;div&gt;With head bowed and eyes closed&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Oh my God I say I trust you&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I go outside and prove that I don't&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Father, help my unbelief&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;You walked on water and transformed it into wine&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;You healed the blind man, erased the darkness from his eyes&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;You raised the dead man to walk again in life&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Still, I don't trust you&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Oh my God I say I love you &lt;div&gt;With head bowed and eyes closed&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Oh my God I say I trust you&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I go outside and prove that I don't&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Father, help my unbelief&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;You spilled your blood, peeled off our dirty dress&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;By grace alone, we're clothed in righteousness&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;You died for us who are no longer dead&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Still I don't trust you&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Why don't I trust you&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Oh my God I say I love you &lt;div&gt;With head bowed and eyes closed&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Oh my God I say I trust you&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I go outside and prove that I don't&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Father, help my unbelief&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-3828341314364807375?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/3828341314364807375/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/11/7in7-day-6-my-unbelief.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/3828341314364807375'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/3828341314364807375'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/11/7in7-day-6-my-unbelief.html' title='7in7 - Day 6 &quot;My Unbelief&quot;'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-2204429271674962109</id><published>2010-11-15T23:22:00.002-06:00</published><updated>2010-11-15T23:32:00.391-06:00</updated><title type='text'>7in7 - Day 5 "Don't Love at All"</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;Day 5. I hope you enjoy listening to this as much as I enjoyed writing and recording it.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;object height="81" width="100%"&gt; &lt;param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F7066120&amp;amp;secret_url=false"&gt;&lt;/param&gt; &lt;param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"&gt;&lt;/param&gt; &lt;embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F7066120&amp;amp;secret_url=false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt; &lt;/object&gt;  &lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10/7in7-day-5-dont-love-at-all"&gt;#7in7 Day 5 - "Don't Love at All"&lt;/a&gt; by &lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10"&gt;alan_land_10&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;On the corner there's a man&lt;div&gt;He's begging for some change&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Says "Don't put it in my hands&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Keep your money, just don't stay the same."&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;His beat up cardboard sign&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In black magic marker lines&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;reads "Love all or don't love at all."&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The same old begging man&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Gathers up his things&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;With cigarette in hand says&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;"Keep your money just listen to me sing."&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;An old guitar with missing strings&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Plays a broken melody&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;says "Love all or don't love at all."&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;He may be on to something good&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;He may be telling all of us the truth&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;"Love all or don't love at all"&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-2204429271674962109?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/2204429271674962109/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/11/7in7-day-5-dont-love-at-all.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2204429271674962109'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2204429271674962109'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/11/7in7-day-5-dont-love-at-all.html' title='7in7 - Day 5 &quot;Don&apos;t Love at All&quot;'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-5110815012592633335</id><published>2010-11-15T18:29:00.002-06:00</published><updated>2010-11-15T18:42:47.790-06:00</updated><title type='text'>7in7 - Day 4 "History on Repeat (Not This Time)"</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;&lt;object height="81" width="100%"&gt; &lt;param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F7059817%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-XWn46&amp;amp;secret_url=true"&gt;&lt;/param&gt; &lt;param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"&gt;&lt;/param&gt; &lt;embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F7059817%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-XWn46&amp;amp;secret_url=true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt; &lt;/object&gt;  &lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10/7in7-day-4-history-on-repeat-not-this-time/s-XWn46"&gt;#7in7 Day 4 - "History on Repeat (Not This Time)"&lt;/a&gt; by &lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10"&gt;alan_land_10&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;If history is on repeat&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;You're back where you're not supposed to be&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In my arms&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;This time it is good&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Our story's old and it's roots run deep&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It took me a while but now I can see&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I was wrong&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Didn't think I would&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;It will not happen again, I won't let it&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Trust me again if you can&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;No, history don't repeat your rhyme&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The first time we heard you fine&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Loud and clear&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I hate your old song&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;This sure don't happen for everyone&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;All the liars say "What's done is done."&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It feels so good&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;To prove them wrong&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;It will not happen again, I won't let it&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Trust me again if you can&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;It will not happen again, I won't let it&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Trust me again if you can&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;I hope you can&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-5110815012592633335?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/5110815012592633335/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/11/7in7-day-4-history-on-repeat-not-this.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/5110815012592633335'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/5110815012592633335'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/11/7in7-day-4-history-on-repeat-not-this.html' title='7in7 - Day 4 &quot;History on Repeat (Not This Time)&quot;'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-4040141075483727377</id><published>2010-11-14T16:11:00.006-06:00</published><updated>2010-11-14T16:47:08.960-06:00</updated><title type='text'>7in7 - Day 3 "Can't Sleep Lullaby"</title><content type='html'>Day 3 was tough. It kicked my butt. &lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;This song is lullaby about not being able to go to sleep. I hope you like it.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;object height="81" width="100%"&gt; &lt;param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F7022089&amp;amp;secret_url=false"&gt; &lt;param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"&gt; &lt;embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F7022089&amp;amp;secret_url=false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt; &lt;/object&gt;  &lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10/7in7-day-3-cant-sleep-lullaby"&gt;#7in7 Day 3 - "Can't Sleep Lullaby"&lt;/a&gt; by &lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10"&gt;alan_land_10&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Once again the sun escapes beneath the mountain peaks&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The owls and the bats begin their day&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Once again my body rests between some dirty sheets&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;My head against a perfect pillow lay&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Once again the sun's reflection hangs among the stars&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;A mirror floating on a pitch black lake&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Once again reminding that this present time of dark&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Is passing as I think myself awake&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;The night is here but I'm not sleeping&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;The light is gone but I'm not dreaming&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Like I was all day&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;I'm slowing down, my mind is racing&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Close my eyes and I start praying&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;That I would drift away&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It's getting late, it's almost early the sun will be back soon&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For hours now the world ain't said a thing&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It's getting late and I am listening to silence in my room&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Any minute now the birds will start to sing&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "&gt; &lt;/span&gt;The night is here but I'm not sleeping&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "&gt; &lt;/span&gt;The light is gone but I'm not dreaming&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Like I was all day&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "&gt; &lt;/span&gt;I'm slowing down, my mind is racing&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Close my eyes and I start praying&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "&gt; &lt;/span&gt;That I would drift away&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-4040141075483727377?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/4040141075483727377/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/11/7in7-day-3-cant-sleep-lullaby.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/4040141075483727377'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/4040141075483727377'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/11/7in7-day-3-cant-sleep-lullaby.html' title='7in7 - Day 3 &quot;Can&apos;t Sleep Lullaby&quot;'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-859584402848638355</id><published>2010-11-13T15:38:00.003-06:00</published><updated>2010-11-13T15:56:03.801-06:00</updated><title type='text'>7in7 - Day 2 "Wet Clay"</title><content type='html'>Writing song 2 was a little more difficult. I think the excitement of 7in7 starting Thursday helped me focus and want to write a song, but that was strangely absent.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;If you read my blog post before 7in7 about confession, then you have an idea about where this song came from. You can read the blog by clicking this this quest-lamation mark --&gt; &lt;a href="http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/11/wet-clay.html"&gt;?!&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I spent a little more time recording this one.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;object height="81" width="100%"&gt; &lt;param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F6991849%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-Xj3re&amp;amp;secret_url=true"&gt; &lt;param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"&gt; &lt;embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F6991849%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-Xj3re&amp;amp;secret_url=true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt; &lt;/object&gt;  &lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10/7in7-day-2-wet-clay/s-Xj3re"&gt;#7in7 Day 2 - Wet Clay&lt;/a&gt; by &lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10"&gt;alan_land_10&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I've got scars and bruises&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;from a knock down drag out fight&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The only thing I can do to win it&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;is bring it into light&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I'm wrestling with darkness&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;but I can't handle it alone&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;If I'm to survive I'll have to rely&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;on strength other than my own&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;I am wet clay in your hands being made&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Into something useful for your name's sake&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The struggle's never ending&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;battles are lost and won&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Praise the creator who makes things new&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Victory has and will continue to come&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "&gt; &lt;/span&gt;I am wet clay in your hands being made&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Into something useful for your name's sake&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-859584402848638355?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/859584402848638355/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/11/7in7-day-2-wet-clay.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/859584402848638355'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/859584402848638355'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/11/7in7-day-2-wet-clay.html' title='7in7 - Day 2 &quot;Wet Clay&quot;'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-969737658702958711</id><published>2010-11-12T11:57:00.005-06:00</published><updated>2010-11-12T12:35:36.426-06:00</updated><title type='text'>7in7 - Day 1 "Something Foolish"</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;If you don't know what 7in7 is, check out this link --&gt; &lt;a href="http://aaronivey.com/?p=9762"&gt;link&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;This is the first of 7 songs in 7 days. It was written on piano but by the time I was ready to record, I had no access to one. Please forgive the crappy garage-band recording. Enjoy (if you can) and be checking back for Song 2.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;object height="81" width="100%"&gt; &lt;param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F6956574%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-MA8xG&amp;amp;secret_url=true"&gt;&lt;/param&gt; &lt;param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"&gt;&lt;/param&gt; &lt;embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F6956574%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-MA8xG&amp;amp;secret_url=true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt; &lt;/object&gt;  &lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10/7in7-day-1-something-foolish/s-MA8xG"&gt;#7in7 Day 1 - Something Foolish&lt;/a&gt; by &lt;a href="http://soundcloud.com/alan_land_10"&gt;alan_land_10&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;We met up to share summer stories&lt;div&gt;I did something foolish, did something stupid&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I did something wrong&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It's my fault. The blame's on my shoulders&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I've tried escaping, I have tried running&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;but the burden's too strong&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I did what I said I wouldn't do&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;You know I did what I said I wouldn't do&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;The countless tears that I caused&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;never fell from eyes so pretty&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;the pain I caused was watering the floor&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;I had no idea what I was doing&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;or, even worse, what I was losing&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;my heart broke the day that I broke yours&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;She sat there with a right to be angry&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;she kept her cool but you could see fire &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;behind her eyes&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;We stood there in a parking lot staring&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I said "I'm sorry." I thought I meant it&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;she said goodbye.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;I don't want to say goodbye&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;I don't want to say goodbye anymore&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I did what I said I wouldn't do&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;You know I did what I said I wouldn't do&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;The countless tears that I caused&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;never fell from eyes so pretty&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;the pain I caused was watering the floor&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;I had no idea what I was doing&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;or, even worse, what I was losing&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;my heart broke the day that I broke yours&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-969737658702958711?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/969737658702958711/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/11/7in7-day-1-something-foolish.html#comment-form' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/969737658702958711'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/969737658702958711'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/11/7in7-day-1-something-foolish.html' title='7in7 - Day 1 &quot;Something Foolish&quot;'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-209436176618491302</id><published>2010-11-08T21:21:00.003-06:00</published><updated>2010-11-08T22:14:35.503-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Wet Clay</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;- James 5:16&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Confession is hard. There is nothing comfortable about admitting failure. There is nothing glamorous about dragging your sin out into the light for others to see. You would think that confessing to close friends that you know and trust would make it easier. It doesn't.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;I have come to learn that the preceding statements are true. I have also learned that confessing sins with brothers in the faith while praying with and for them is a beautiful practice. Yes, it's difficult and yes it's sometimes embarrassing, but it forces you to remember grace–something I struggle with remembering on a daily basis.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Confession takes humility. It makes you dependent. When you willingly shine light on your sin, you are saying, "I have had enough with this crap, and I can't do anything about it by myself." It forces you to rely on something other than your own strength. Confession takes a dry, broken soul and makes it wet clay ready to be molded by the Potter. It is then that people see not the beauty of the creation but the beauty of the Creator, the one who took something that was broken and not only fixed it but made it new.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Praise God for grace and mercy and making shattered things brand new.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Next time you see me in real life, let's talk about this.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-209436176618491302?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/209436176618491302/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/11/wet-clay.html#comment-form' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/209436176618491302'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/209436176618491302'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/11/wet-clay.html' title='Wet Clay'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-2234867257956061924</id><published>2010-09-12T20:41:00.005-05:00</published><updated>2010-09-13T20:52:36.950-05:00</updated><title type='text'>My Feeble American Mind</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;If you read my last post–or claim to be my friend–you know that I recently went to &lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swaziland"&gt;Swaziland&lt;/a&gt;. This is a recollection of some of the best moments:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Getting to Swaziland was an adventure in itself. My jaw dropped on dirty asphalt when I stepped out from under ground into Times Square. I have never seen billboards, signs, and lights as big as those in the few famous blocks. My feeble American mind could not get over the reality that a third world country was just a flight away.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Our purpose in going to Swaziland was to help put on the Swaziland National Youth Camp. Five Swazi girls would start singing in the main room–a class room the size of your garage– and at the sound of their voices 150 Swazi people would pack inside to sing and dance to celebrate Jesus Christ. Before anyone could hear them, the voices coming out of the speakers from the two girls holding microphones were swallowed by the overwhelming and beautiful sound of worship. My feeble American mind could barely handle the beauty of this strange style of worship that pointed to and glorified a worthy King.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;We went to a small village called Phuzamoya where Nizio, a local pastor who deserves a whole blog post for himself, gave us a tour of his new church building where he preaches to a growing, God fearing congregation. He took us to his home where he showed off his family. He was proud. We were honored. My feeble American mind almost let the magnitude of this slip past unnoticed. I am glad I caught it before it got away.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;My feeble American mind thought that people in Swaziland have never heard the name of Christ and that I was going over there to tell them about Him.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;I was wrong.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Small churches around the world are growing. Young and very Godly pastors outside of the United States are leading their churches well. The global church is thriving.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;There are lot of fun things, funny stories, and interesting experiences I could tell you about but you're eyes are probably getting tired.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;My first time out of the country will not be my last, Lord willing.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Also, Grant and I bought coffee from Starbucks ("&lt;a href="http://thebloggingsofnickarbuckle.blogspot.com/2010/02/ms-mullins-is-man.html"&gt;The Man&lt;/a&gt;") instead of getting our caffeine fix from a vendor on the corner of 42nd street. It was &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7iVqouHuc&amp;amp;feature=PlayList&amp;amp;p=A9630CECBD9A0CDA&amp;amp;playnext=1&amp;amp;playnext_from=PL&amp;amp;index=1"&gt;4&lt;/a&gt; a.m. and we needed a pick-me-up immediately, give us a break. I should also note that Grant's iphone broke immediately after taking a picture of me. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;"You have broken my camera!" - Lars, Heavyweights&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-2234867257956061924?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/2234867257956061924/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/09/my-feeble-american-mind.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2234867257956061924'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2234867257956061924'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/09/my-feeble-american-mind.html' title='My Feeble American Mind'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-1542613083672856307</id><published>2010-08-21T19:45:00.004-05:00</published><updated>2010-08-21T20:30:08.491-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Zaid and Jide</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;Very soon I will be sitting thousands of feet above land and sea waiting to land thousands of miles away from anything familiar slowly transforming into a foreigner.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I am leaving the country tomorrow afternoon. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The uncertainty of what awaits in Swaziland is clouded by the excitement that comes with crossing new borders that are a little larger than the ones already crossed. Borders that are not closely followed by welcome centers with picnic tables, nasty bathrooms, and families flooding out of minivans towards the previous two attractions (i.e. Louisiana, Mississippi, etc.).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Although I am about to do something I have never done before, I am tired of traveling. I just want to stay in one spot for a little while and relax. I either need rest or some sort of strength and energy for Swaziland. God is faithful always. The following is proof.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Today I saw a guy on the sidewalk flailing his arms around like a lunatic trying to flag me down. Naturally I pulled over and rolled my window down. I ended up randomly giving these two guys from Nigeria a ride to Walmart. It's an interesting story, really. On our way back to campus, we got to talking about Swaziland. I told them I was missing a week of school to take the Gospel there. Then my new friend, Jide, said this: &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;"Why don't you come to Nigeria? &lt;b&gt;We have been waiting on you.&lt;/b&gt;"&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;They are waiting. Waiting for someone to show up with the Gospel. Jide and Zaid gave me a new kind of excitement about this trip. Thank you, Jesus, for little things such as this.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The harvest is plentiful.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I should tell you that it's not Jide that rhymes with ride or tide, it's pronounced Jee-day. Zaid is prounounced Zy-eed. Crazy Nigerians.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-1542613083672856307?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/1542613083672856307/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/08/zaid-and-jide.html#comment-form' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/1542613083672856307'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/1542613083672856307'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/08/zaid-and-jide.html' title='Zaid and Jide'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-2538522582220332399</id><published>2010-05-15T07:27:00.006-05:00</published><updated>2010-05-15T09:20:00.450-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Robin Hood - Reviewed</title><content type='html'>This is my first ever movie review on this here blog machine.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Robin Hood&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;In 2000, Ridley Scott directed &lt;a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172495/"&gt;Gladiator&lt;/a&gt; starring Russell Crowe, an action movie with a fictitious plot based on historical events, or what I call an "ultimate man movie." (see &lt;a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112573/"&gt;Braveheart&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112573/"&gt;The Patriot&lt;/a&gt;, etc.) This film proudly sits in my top 5 of all time.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Now, when I first heard about Robin Hood, my mind (like every other "ultimate man movie" fan's mind) immediately thought Gladiator. "Oh, cool. Maximus gets a bow and some merry men this time." Initially, I was a little skeptical. Then I realized that if this movie was anything like Gladiator, Mr. Scott would be doing the world a favor.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Too say the least, Robin Hood lived up to the hype.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;The classic Robin Hood tale that we all know and love (and have seen produced at least half a dozen times) is not the 2010 Ridley Scott version. This film could almost be considered a prequel to the well-known "steal from the rich, give to the poor" tale. It tells the story behind the story.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;You get to witness the hero fight in the Crusades with King Richard the Lionheart whose crown is passed to his brother John after his death in battle. The despicable King John begins his selfish, greedy, power-hungry tyranny and you get to watch it unfold. Ladies, you get to see the relationship between the hooded hero and his Lady Marian grow from the ground up as they fall in love.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;The character development in this movie serves as a pillar on which the classic story is built.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Crowe portrays the charitable outlaw like no one else ever has or ever will. He's not the quick, lean &lt;a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107977/"&gt;man in tights&lt;/a&gt;. He's the strong, warrior archer in tights. Not once did I mistake him for &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvAbGbFYAuk"&gt;Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the armies of the North, general of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius, father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife.&lt;/a&gt; You know, the one who will get his vengeance in this life or the next. He wasn't in this movie. When it comes to King John, you hate him for a while, then you start to like him but not fully trust him, then, as soon as you start to think he is trustworthy, you realize you hate him again. Godfrey is a great character but I will let you see it to learn more about him. The movie did a great job of making an emotional connection between you and each of the characters.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;This movie has what it takes to be in the same conversation as Braveheart and Gladiator, but it also has some elements that, unfortunately, take it out of that same conversation. There were a few cheesy things that took away more than they contributed. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Ladies, beware. You may not like what you are about to read.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;First off is a knight in full armor with a helmet covering his face riding into battle just moments before the initial charge. Turns out it's actually Lady Marian coming to fight beside her man. The face covering was incredibly unnecessary. Everybody in the theater, including the &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7iVqouHuc&amp;amp;feature=PlayList&amp;amp;p=A9630CECBD9A0CDA&amp;amp;playnext=1&amp;amp;playnext_from=PL&amp;amp;index=1"&gt;5 &lt;/a&gt;year-old girl sitting in her dad's lap next to me, knew who was wearing that armor. She might as well have been riding side saddle or bringing her man a sandwich (Sorry, ladies, it was just too easy.) But, seriously, I think we all would have been better off had they left out that cliché.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Secondly, in the middle of a super intense battle, Lady Marian is knocked from her horse while trying to satisfy a personal vengeance only to be saved by Mr. Longstride himself. Although that is another small cliché, it didn't bother me too much. What did bother me was the fact that, after exchanging a few blows with the enemy, Robin took time to make out with her while the super intense battle was happening in literally every direction. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good love story. In fact, all "ultimate man movies" are love stories. It's just that the make out scene could have waited until a more appropriate time.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;After all of that, I give Robin Hood 4 stars. I was connected emotionally. It drew me in and didn't let go until the credits. Best movie I have seen in theaters in a long long time. I think Ridley Scott understands that it takes more than just tons of explosions to make a good action flick (Yeah, I'm talking to you Ironman 2.) Bravo, Robin Hood.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;"Rise and rise again until lambs become lions." - Robin Hood&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;It's lengthy, I know. Thanks for reading this far.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-2538522582220332399?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/2538522582220332399/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/05/robin-hood-reviewed.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2538522582220332399'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2538522582220332399'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/05/robin-hood-reviewed.html' title='Robin Hood - Reviewed'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-7043077491748487977</id><published>2010-05-10T11:19:00.004-05:00</published><updated>2010-05-10T12:37:56.863-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Well, this is awkward...</title><content type='html'>I don't like awkward.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I don't like the word. I don't like the idea. I don't like awkward.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;After reading the preceding three sentences, those who know me might say, "No, trust me, you don't have any problems with awkward." To that I would most likely respond with a tweaked and censored Baby Mama quote by Amy Poehler (which can be seen&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6SMIRHwaFg"&gt; here&lt;/a&gt;.)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The word "awkward" is incredibly overused. It doesn't matter what the situation is, if it is the least bit weird or uncomfortable we say it is awkward. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;"He is so awkward." &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;"I look so awkward in this dress." &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;"Look at that car. Talk about awkward."&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I think the word has become just a popular trendy term that is an easy go-to when we have run out of adjectives in our minds.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Take, for example, being introduced to a friend of a friend. You meet and it's a little weird. You don't really know them. They don't know you. The conversation can't even be considered small talk. So, afterwards you say, "Man/&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7iVqouHuc&amp;amp;feature=PlayList&amp;amp;p=A9630CECBD9A0CDA&amp;amp;playnext=1&amp;amp;playnext_from=PL&amp;amp;index=1"&gt;Omg&lt;/a&gt; Girl, I just met my homeboy's homeboy and it was so awkward." Many people would agree, that was an awkward situation. However, I don't think "awkward" is the word. Get a thesaurus, youthful America.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The idea of awkward is frustrating to me. In the previous hypothetical situation, can't you see the potential &lt;a href="http://www.moviewavs.com/php/sounds/?id=bst&amp;amp;media=WAVS&amp;amp;type=TV_Shows&amp;amp;movie=Seinfeld&amp;amp;quote=awkward.txt&amp;amp;file=awkward.wav"&gt;"awkward" moment &lt;/a&gt;coming? You are meeting someone who you have never ever met, so things are not going to be completely "normal." Discomfort is inevitable and you can smell it coming. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Wait just a second, friends. Don't get me wrong and think that I don't believe awkward exists because it most definitely does. Sometimes you can't escape it. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;All in all, I think I am just tired of the word. We have better vocabularies than we think. We are smarter than the overuse of "awkward" makes us look. That's all that I mean.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;So, go out there and get into some weird situations and do me a favor, refuse to deem them "awkward."&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;"Do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks. I am not trying to rob you. I am trying to help you." - Gandalf, Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;kiloveyoubye&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Speaking of overuse of "awkward," I used it 18 times in this post (including the title).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-7043077491748487977?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/7043077491748487977/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/05/well-this-is-awkward.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/7043077491748487977'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/7043077491748487977'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/05/well-this-is-awkward.html' title='Well, this is awkward...'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-2331406358707258730</id><published>2010-04-30T20:12:00.002-05:00</published><updated>2010-05-01T13:35:35.300-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Adventure/Relaxation</title><content type='html'>I hate having to write a previous-day-narrative post but this one is going to start off that way.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;My friend Nick and I were floating on some kayaks down a flowing body of water (It's hard to tell wether it is a creek or a river.) We were pursuing the adventure that we both wanted and still experiencing the relaxation we both needed.  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Half an hour downstream we came to a point in the river/creek/moving water that we were looking forward to. At that particular point, a small road in a city park blocks the flow of the water. There are four drainage tunnels that funnel the water to the other side creating a very small rapid (I use that term "rapid" loosely.) The kayaks fit through the tunnels. We fit through the tunnels. It's fun.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;What was waiting for us on the other end of the scary/fun tunnels way better than the calm water we had been floating on for 3&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7iVqouHuc&amp;amp;feature=PlayList&amp;amp;p=A9630CECBD9A0CDA&amp;amp;playnext=1&amp;amp;playnext_from=PL&amp;amp;index=1"&gt;0&lt;/a&gt; minutes.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;There was applause and cheers.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Three little boys were standing on the bank waving, clapping, and yelling at Nick and I. Before I knew it, one jumped in, dog-paddled over and grabbed the back of my boat telling me to drag him and go fast. It didn't take long for the other two to follow. These guys were drenched from swimming around and chasing ducks. They were wearing what was probably the same thing they wore to school a few hours before. Shoes and all. I am guessing they thought changing clothes would cut into their play time at the creek.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I used to be like these three little guys. It bothers me a little bit that I have lost some of their attributes. You see, when the first boy jumped into the water to come grab onto my boat, he wasn't worried about what he might land on if he jumped in. He didn't ask before he did it, either. He saw something he wanted and, instead of weighing the pros and cons, he jumped. Their was no fear, no reservations. Pure excitement.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The kids ended up crawling up onto our boats, sitting where ever they could hang on and still have a good look at the fish, ducks, and challenges that the shallow water was sure to bring. It was cool to ask them about themselves only to get a short answer and then "How fast can we go?"&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;They rode with us for about 20 minutes, helping us move the boats back to floating after being stuck on a rock. They didn't have a care in the world. They just wanted to hang out with the guys in the kayaks.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Back in normal life there is homework, finals, work, money or lack thereof and stress. Hanging out with those three punks helped us push "normal life" under water so we could enjoy the brief moments until it resurfaces.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Even though they will never read it, this post goes out to Jay, Rick, and Kyler.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;"Sometimes I do what I want to. The rest of the time, I do what I have to do." - Cicero, &lt;i&gt;Gladiator&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Thanks for reading this far. Sorry it was such a narrative.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=389293180917"&gt;Nick and me going through the tunnels last week in a canoe.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-2331406358707258730?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/2331406358707258730/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/04/i-hate-having-to-write-previous-day.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2331406358707258730'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2331406358707258730'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/04/i-hate-having-to-write-previous-day.html' title='Adventure/Relaxation'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-7306829853043390572</id><published>2010-03-26T10:18:00.005-05:00</published><updated>2010-03-26T10:57:18.554-05:00</updated><title type='text'>What didn't happen over spring break.</title><content type='html'>I was planning on having a lot of things happen over spring break. Things that I could write down some words about and then, eventually, post on this here blog machine. Ok, maybe it was just two things.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;1.) Hitch hiking. The plan was for me and my brother, Shawn (brother like the way black people or Paul use it), to find a way to get from Canyon to Lubbock with out driving. It's 100 miles so if we get one ride, we are pretty much there. We loaded up our backpacks with a water bottle, bible, journal, pen, and a pair of socks. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The day we were planning on leaving, Shawn woke up with his throat almost swollen shut. Hitch hiking esta no mas.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;2.) 13.1 miles. Barefoot. The plan for the past eight weeks was to run the Bearathon in Waco on March 20. I had been training. I was to the point that I felt confident my lungs were still going to be working and my feet were going to still be strong after a half-marathon. On race day, the weather was miserable. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Apparently someone in the greater Waco area said a bad word, or didn't close their eyes when they were praying or something, because the good Lord sent some lightning. That was what it took for the race to be cancelled. It was bittersweet. Bitter because I spent so many hours running around Belton, Texas by myself without shoes on for what seems like no reason at all. Sweet because that weather was the worst and we didn't have to run in it.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;So, spring break was not exactly what I had planned. That's why I really don't like making plans. They never seem to work out.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;My plan doesn't really matter though . . . at all. Remember the Guy I mentioned earlier with the lightning bolts?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;My break was great, still. I got the rest that I needed and watched more Full House than I needed. Solid.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;"The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, defac, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don't know what the hell they're doing or who on Earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino." - Joe Fox, &lt;i&gt;You've Got Mail&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;I realize that's a random movie quote but it was on my mind.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;About a month ago, I said Baseball Part III was coming soon. I shouldn't have said that.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-7306829853043390572?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/7306829853043390572/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-didnt-happen-over-spring-break.html#comment-form' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/7306829853043390572'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/7306829853043390572'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-didnt-happen-over-spring-break.html' title='What didn&apos;t happen over spring break.'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-7717090602018193120</id><published>2010-02-24T11:26:00.007-06:00</published><updated>2010-02-24T21:17:14.621-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Baseball Part II: The Appetizer</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Metal-bat baseball has already begun.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;High school teams struggle through frigid g&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;ames while they wait for their basketball team to lose in the playoffs so they can have their ace and lead-off batter. Practices are long and miserable in freezing February rain and wind. Guys dread going to practice all day only to find out that the fun of playing catch for two hours with a heavy, water logged ball outweighs the discomfort of numb hands and ever-chattering teeth. Long bumpy rides on a yellow dog to play in the &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7iVqouHuc&amp;amp;feature=PlayList&amp;amp;p=A9630CECBD9A0CDA&amp;amp;playnext=1&amp;amp;playnext_from=PL&amp;amp;index=1"&gt;35&lt;/a&gt; degree weather make this type of baseball a breed of its own.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 131px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/S4XrKBJvtbI/AAAAAAAAAC0/3_xb6k9LxlE/s200/n696885144_810489_1632.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442014282087642546" /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;College baseball is some of the best baseball to watch. Teams take the field at their on-campus stadium and play with the thought of Omaha, Nebraska never leaving their minds. Sure, they are always dreaming of winning the College World Series, but, at the same time, they seem to have more fun playing baseball than anyone else in the world. They are always laughing in the dugout, giving nicknames to opposing players, and using words that they probably made up and turned into baseball lingo.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/S4Xq8KrJlXI/AAAAAAAAACs/F6r3WIEmJgA/s200/n696885144_696248_575.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442014044125500786" /&gt;&lt;div&gt;This kind of baseball is a lot like great chips and salsa at a Mexican food restaurant. The college and high school baseball season is like the appetizer before the Major Leagues begin. You go to these games because, well, you're hungry and that's all that is on the table. It kind of a warms up for your steak fajitas. Once your you finally start on your meal though, you don't forget about the delicious chips and salsa because they are still right in front you. Naturally, you keep going back in between bites of your meal, because, dad gummit, that appetizer is great.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Does that make sense?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;"Relax, alright? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, their fascist. Throw ground balls. It's more democratic." - Crash Davis, &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppBt1Igsg-U"&gt;Bull Durham&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Part 3 coming soon.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-7717090602018193120?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/7717090602018193120/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/02/baseball-part-ii-appetizer.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/7717090602018193120'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/7717090602018193120'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/02/baseball-part-ii-appetizer.html' title='Baseball Part II: The Appetizer'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/S4XrKBJvtbI/AAAAAAAAAC0/3_xb6k9LxlE/s72-c/n696885144_810489_1632.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-3310463498645678495</id><published>2010-02-23T10:50:00.007-06:00</published><updated>2010-02-23T18:15:18.340-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Baseball Part I: I Love This Game</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Praise the Lord, O my soul, baseball season is upon us, friends!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The months of waiting, weeks of pointless college bowl games (no offense, &lt;a href="http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=293530164"&gt;Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl&lt;/a&gt;), and post-Cowboys heartbreak NFL playoffs are finally over and America's pastime is on it's way.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;This time of year, boys everywhere struggle to fall asleep because every time they roll over onto that uncomfortable bump in their mattress they are reminded that the cause, a few inches beneath them, is a brand new glove, lathered up with oil, wrapped in rubber bands, and forming perfectly around the baseball inside. Once they finally get to sleep, their dreams are filled with heroic walk-off home runs and diving catches th&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;at ruin their uniform.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;They aren't the only ones  preparing though. Dad's are secretly scouting their son's friends so they can get as much talent as possible on their team and, in turn, receive the coveted Manager of the Year Award. This is ridiculous for several reasons, the first being the fact that the Manager of the Year award doesn't exist. Also, when you are coaching a team of spastic 8 year-olds, you are not a manager.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 140px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/S4RufXW0RoI/AAAAAAAAACU/0VQ-DaOsuhQ/s200/Baseball+Picture.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441595734895117954" /&gt;&lt;div&gt;I was one of those kids. Chipper Jones, among other players, was my hero. Those dreams of late game heroics were common, even if I wasn't sleeping. I have hit countless 2 out full count walk-off grand slams over the fence into the neighbor's backyard. I have thrown hundreds of fly balls to myself that were the perfect distance for me to run and have to dive to catch. On one occasion, a self-thrown fly ball went right passed my glove and bounced off my face. I wanted to cry until I realized that my nose was bleeding and it made me look like Nolan Ryan after the famous Robin Ventura ass kicking (sorry for calling it that, Mom, but you and I both know that's exactly what it was).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Fortunately, though, I have a dad who is nothing like the one described above. Did he coach a team or two? Absolutely. Was he an idiot about it? No. My dad is the reason I love baseball. He taught me the game. He is the reason I know that a batter can look at a maximum of 11 pitches in one at bat without swinging. He named my brother, Ryan, and I after baseball players. My childhood family vacations always consisted of visiting some type of high level baseball stadium. Even if it wasn't baseball season we would go and try to find a gate that some maintenance man left unlocked so we could walk around on the field. Because of his love for the game, I have a love for the game. Thanks, Dad, for not trying to get the Manager of the Year Award and just teaching me to love the game.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;"Man, this is baseball. You gotta stop thinking. Just have fun." - Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;This is part 1 of however many posts it takes me to finish talking about baseball. Hope you enjoy it.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;P.S. Casey. There now I mentioned everyone in my family.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-3310463498645678495?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/3310463498645678495/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/02/baseball-part-i-i-love-this-game.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/3310463498645678495'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/3310463498645678495'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/02/baseball-part-i-i-love-this-game.html' title='Baseball Part I: I Love This Game'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/S4RufXW0RoI/AAAAAAAAACU/0VQ-DaOsuhQ/s72-c/Baseball+Picture.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-2080344360248491620</id><published>2010-02-05T10:05:00.007-06:00</published><updated>2010-02-05T12:59:37.163-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Middle School Romance</title><content type='html'>I spent February 1st hoping and praying that an e-mail would make it from a computer at the Student Life offices in Hoover, Alabama all the way to my inbox in Belton without getting lost in (the) space in between.  Also, I was hoping that the letters in that e-mail would make up several words that combined to form sentences which were translated correctly in my noggin to mean "Hey, you wanna work for us again this summer?"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The whole process of getting this e-mail reminds me of middle school. Bare with me here.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Student Life is the girl who just got her braces off, is on the A-team in both volleyball and basketball, but hasn't yet grown a head taller than you. The girl that everybody wants to "go out" with but can't talk to with out getting nervous, sweating bullets, and needing another ten second shower in Axe Body Spray (in my case . . . Brittany Hampton).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The e-mail is a hand-written note that undoubtedly starts out with "Wuz ^! N*M*H*&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7iVqouHuc&amp;amp;feature=PlayList&amp;amp;p=A9630CECBD9A0CDA&amp;amp;playnext=1&amp;amp;playnext_from=PL&amp;amp;index=1"&gt;J&lt;/a&gt;*C! LOL!" A rumor goes around that the aforementioned junior high dream girl is going to give you one of these notes. Your not sure if it's actually going to happen but you want it to so bad. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Finally, someone slips you the note intricately folded in the shape of a heart. You don't have to worry about ripping it during the unfolding though; because, thanks to the tab on the side, it unfolds itself. (Thanks for making that part easy back then . . . Brittany) When it miraculously opens up, you ignore the entire body paragraph because of the two familiar shapes at the bottom of the page. Blank squares with the infamous words written above in calligraphy-esque handwriting:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHxS8wlDngI"&gt;Check Yes or No&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;The same is true when I got the e-mail a few days ago. The check boxes were shaped more like the words "Recreation Leader" in bold. And my "yes" check mark was more like a call to the Student Life offices.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;So, I found out this past Monday what I will be doing this summer. I am so excited. With one summer under my belt, I think ministering to students will be easier. Not easier in the sense that it will happen without any effort, but that it will be easier to focus on being a minister rather than on trying to figure out how camp world works.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;The thing I love about working for Student Life is that I get to be a very small part of something that God used to change my life when I was a camper. I am so thrilled, privileged, honored, and humbled to be a part Student Life now and hopefully make an impact on a student's life, just like it made on me.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;I am looking forward to April 1, when I will receive another e-mail with a list of names and locations, both familiar and new. Just a few short months and I will be back working the best job in America, with the best people in the world, for the Creator of the Universe.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;"Are you ready for the best damn summer of your life?!" - Pat Finley, &lt;i&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BEHoBsqoNQ"&gt;Heavyweights&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;The parallels of Student Life and middle school romance are so obvious, right? It's a stretch, I know.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;By the way, it didn't work out between Brittany and myself. Just FYI . . . &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMfHnNu1oq4"&gt;ladies&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-2080344360248491620?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/2080344360248491620/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/02/middle-school-romance.html#comment-form' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2080344360248491620'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2080344360248491620'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/02/middle-school-romance.html' title='Middle School Romance'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-2591837409501043663</id><published>2010-01-25T22:11:00.004-06:00</published><updated>2010-01-26T10:45:16.711-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Listen.</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Here is a suggestion for the next time you are listening to your favorite vinyl record: pull a chair over and sit as close to the turntable as you can, grab the needle and carefully place it on that line that separates your favorite song on the album from the track preceding it. This next part is vital.  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;Turn the volume all the way down to zero and listen closely. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;What you get is one of your favorite tunes directly from needle to ear. The crappy, 20 year old speakers are out of the equation and all that's left is something all too familiar and undeniably unique.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;When you think about it, sound is pretty important. I mean, according to Julie Andrews, the sound (of music) made hills come alive. I don't notice sounds as much as I would like, though. This is probably because my eyes distract me with all that there is too see, or even more likely, I can't hear any beauty over the volume of the pointless ramblings coming from my own voice. There are still those certain sounds that, no matter what, I can't help but notice. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;The crack that results from a wooden bat smashing a triple in the right field corner, the powerful crash of thunder, the already mentioned quiet melodies and harmonies from a turntable, and that moment when the band stops playing and lets the audience-choir finish out a line in their song.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;The crack of the bat is nostalgic. Each time I hear it another memory of some random minor league ballpark from years earlier comes out of sub-conscious hiding for a moment.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Thunder is just incredible to me. In fact, it is my second favorite creation. I am sure there is a scientific explanation for it that I could read after a few quick keystrokes on google, but I would rather just say its God bowling (I heard He can bowl over a 300 . . . in one frame). There is nothing better than getting the piss scared out of you by a crash and rumble that makes your house tremble. I feel like it's God saying, "Hey . . . remember me?"&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;I don't think I really have to explain the sound of a thousand people all singing the same song, in the same key, at the same time. It's beautiful. It makes me so thankful for the girl who sits behind me at a worship service that sings the harmony to every song at the top of her lungs. She makes us all sound better, right?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Well, all that rambling to say: I am a terrible listener and I want to get better. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;What's your favorite sound(&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7iVqouHuc&amp;amp;feature=PlayList&amp;amp;p=A9630CECBD9A0CDA&amp;amp;playnext=1&amp;amp;playnext_from=PL&amp;amp;index=1"&gt;s&lt;/a&gt;)?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;"I have no idea, to this day, what those two Italian ladies were singing about. The truth is: I don't want to know. Some things are best left unsaid. I like to think they were singing about something so beautiful it can't be expressed in words and makes your heart ache because of it. I'll tell ya, those voices soared higher and farther than anybody in a grave place dares to dream. It was like some beautiful bird flapped into our drab little cage and made those walls dissolve away. And for the briefest of moments, every last man at Shawshank felt free." - Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding, &lt;i&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se8TM696HRY"&gt;The Shawshank Redemption&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Also, If you read this blog, stop it and read both of these:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://heytherejohnryan.blogspot.com/"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Cut the Crap&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://thebloggingsofnickarbuckle.blogspot.com/"&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Bloggings of Nick Arbuckle &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt;(That's pronounced 'Neek Arbooklay')&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Stay cool, never change, have a great summer,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-2591837409501043663?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/2591837409501043663/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/01/here-is-suggestion-for-next-time-you.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2591837409501043663'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2591837409501043663'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/01/here-is-suggestion-for-next-time-you.html' title='Listen.'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-8831307184302333387</id><published>2010-01-19T10:43:00.005-06:00</published><updated>2010-01-20T17:43:50.202-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Very successful trip to Austin</title><content type='html'>Someone was watching the news last week and, like the rest of us, saw about as much pain, suffering, and death as a camera can possibly capture. That someone, whoever it is, had a great idea and with the help of a bunch of "Austin-ites" and an Austin organization called Music for the City, threw together a concert in 24 hours to help make a difference in the lives of Hatians. &lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The show was at one of my favorite venues in Austin, The Parish, and featured four bands. It was $10 to get in and 100% of the money is going to an orphanage called Real Hope for Haiti. Inside, there were "Help Haiti" t-shirts for sale as well as other merchandise from the artists. Did I mention that all four artists played for free? Because they did.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.myspace.com/courriermusic"&gt;Courrier&lt;/a&gt;:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;These four guys started off the evening right and blew some minds (and ear drums) in the process. Apparently they play alternative rock stuff but I don't really know what that means. I do know that they got my head bobbin' and foot tappin'. Check these fools out because they are awesome. I don't know why I have never listened to them before. Oh, and they played a cover of "With or Without You" and pulled it off. Studs.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://mirandadodson.com/"&gt;Miranda Dodson&lt;/a&gt;:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;She started off with a slower song and I was a little skeptical but her second song was a jam. She has an incredible voice and really got to show it when she covered some Patty Griffin song I had never heard of called &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl4HjwQ77XM"&gt;"Up to the Mountain."&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://listentomatt.com/"&gt;Matt McCloskey&lt;/a&gt;:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;This dude is awesome. Before he took the stage, the MC, or whatever you want to call him, said when he first heard Matt McCloskey's music he felt like he was hearing what American music is supposed to sound like. He might have more fun playing music than anyone I have seen live. Either that, or he hates playing music and is a phenomenal actor. Great musician, great performer.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://aaronivey.com/"&gt;Aaron Ivey&lt;/a&gt;:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;This is who I drove to Austin to see. After being led in worship by Aaron and his band at Student Life and at UMHB's revival, I have become a huge fan. Aaron, along with his band, is very passionate about justice and missions, especially in Haiti. He has adopted two kids from there, Amos and Story. Story has made it home with the Ivey's but they are still in the long process of bringing Amos home. So with Haiti already being a huge part of his life and having a son there during this time of darkness, this benefit was huge for them, personally. They played songs from their album, &lt;i&gt;Between the Beauty and the Chaos&lt;/i&gt; (buy it), and ended with &lt;b&gt;It Is Well&lt;/b&gt;. So, I was able to worship the Father with 400+ people at a bar on (in)famous 6th street in Austin. Incredible.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;There are two things that stuck in my mind from this show:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;1.) I love that in a setting that is taboo for a lot of Christians (which is sad), people can worship in song and giving. I am sure the bar-tenders were pretty pissed. A predominantly Christian crowd probably makes for a pretty slow night in tips. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;2.) This wasn't "Wear Red for Haiti Day" to raise awareness about something that is dominating the news channels. Wearing red doesn't do anything for Haitians. This concert raised over $12,000 and the only people to benefit from that money are the kids who are sleeping on concrete in rubble right now. This made a difference.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I am so glad I was able to be a very very small fraction of something so good. There is no reason that I deserve to live in comfortable America. I deserve the helpless, hopeless pain that Haiti is experiencing now. Grace is beautiful and, in my life, too often forgotten.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;"I know they made you do bad things, but you are not a bad boy. I am your father who loves you and you will come home with me and be my son again." - Solomon Vandy, &lt;a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450259/"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Blood Diamond&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;If you read this far . . . high five,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;This is "Amos Story" live at The Parish. You can see the music video (shot in Haiti) for this song &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4eZybIXpm8"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span"   style="  white-space: pre; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;"&gt;&lt;object width="425" height="344"&gt;&lt;param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PPmSmXuall0&amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;fs=1&amp;amp;rel=0"&gt;&lt;param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"&gt;&lt;param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"&gt;&lt;embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PPmSmXuall0&amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;fs=1&amp;amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-8831307184302333387?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/8831307184302333387/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/01/very-successful-trip-to-austin.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/8831307184302333387'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/8831307184302333387'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2010/01/very-successful-trip-to-austin.html' title='Very successful trip to Austin'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-7183131210107631351</id><published>2009-12-24T00:12:00.004-06:00</published><updated>2009-12-24T00:56:30.710-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Holiday Mass Text Messages</title><content type='html'>This post goes out to those of you who will send out a mass text message on Christmas day wishing everyone in your contacts list a merry Christmas.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It's likely that by the end of tomorrow you and I both will have received a text saying:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;"Merry Christmas!!!! Hope your having a good break! :))"&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;"Dude, Happy Hanukkah, bro! LOL!!!! :0" &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;"Keep Christ in CHRISTmas and have a merry one! &lt;3"&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;"This text is coming from my new iPhone! You're welcome! :D"&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I know it's a nice gesture and you mean well, but to be honest, it's a little annoying. It makes you, as the sender, feel really good. I mean, you did just tell all of your friends, family, acquaintances, and even that one person you randomly made out with, to have a merry Christmas. Ideally, the receiver reads the text and thinks, "Wow, that is so sweet. They almost love and care about me too much." Unfortunately, the reader knows immediately that at least a hundred other people got the same message. The truth is, we see right through your cute little holiday texts.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;So, Mr./Ms./Mrs./Dr. Christmas-day-mass-text-message-sender, I have some advice for you. Tomorrow when you are tempted to send those texts to all your friends, go enjoy a slice of pecan pie, try on your brand new clothes, sync up your new &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7iVqouHuc&amp;amp;feature=PlayList&amp;amp;p=A9630CECBD9A0CDA&amp;amp;playnext=1&amp;amp;playnext_from=PL&amp;amp;index=1"&gt;i&lt;/a&gt;Pod, tell your family some Christmas jokes. If you can't fight the urge, at least start the text message with "Disclaimer: This is not a mass text message. The following text was sent to you and only you." Then, when I read it, I believe for a few seconds that you are telling the truth.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I am looking forward to the texts, friends.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;"Hey guys, you seen the place? It's good. A little too good, they must have brought in a professional. I don't know why someone's gunning for my job, but look, let's stick together on this. If you get wind of anything, call me on my radio. Channel 3. Code word: 'Santa's got a brand new bag.'" - Gimbel's Manager, &lt;i&gt;Elf&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Merry Christmas,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-7183131210107631351?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/7183131210107631351/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/12/holiday-mass-text-messages.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/7183131210107631351'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/7183131210107631351'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/12/holiday-mass-text-messages.html' title='Holiday Mass Text Messages'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-2220021406620986211</id><published>2009-12-22T16:59:00.003-06:00</published><updated>2009-12-22T19:29:09.038-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Good, No, Great Morning</title><content type='html'>This morning I had one of my most worshipful experiences of 2009.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For some reason I will never know, I woke up around &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7iVqouHuc&amp;amp;feature=PlayList&amp;amp;p=A9630CECBD9A0CDA&amp;amp;playnext=1&amp;amp;playnext_from=PL&amp;amp;index=1"&gt;6&lt;/a&gt; a.m. I laid in bed for an hour or so listened to the constant rhythm of my dad's footsteps hitting the rotating belt on the treadmill in the next room and tried to get back to the dream I was having. I was unsuccessful.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;When I finally sat up and wiped the drool off my face, I came up with a way to ignore the boredom of the morning. I stepped into some jeans and threw on a layer of flannel over a thermal undershirt. I grabbed a sweater and an apple as I thumbed through my ipod, finally landing on Leeland's &lt;i&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Move-Leeland/dp/B002FOQY40"&gt;Love Is On The Move&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt;. Tucking my bible in my back pocket, I walked out of my back door, into the brisk air that is home, and toward a cup of coffee. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;With anxious legs and a heavy heart, I started on a walk that secluded me from everything but the Father. His presence was more noticeable with each visible exhale. I sang along with the music that was loud in my ears but no one else's and praised the only one worthy of praise. The midpoint of my trip was marked by a few pages of the Old Testament and some coffee drink that I am not going to even bother trying to spell. It was so relaxing. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The walk home consisted of myself singing along to Phil Wickham's &lt;i&gt;&lt;a href="http://freebieholic.net/2008/08/17/phil-wickham-singalong/"&gt;Singalong&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt; album. I hate that I can "get over" experiencing the grace of God, but there is nothing like being reminded that ". . . I'm so unworthy but still you love me . . ." It's great to be reminded of who Christ is, what He did, and how beautiful His return will be.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In a season of busyness and crowded shopping centers, it was incredible to enjoy the stillness of the morning with the Father. It was exactly what I needed.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;"And because I was a gazillionaire and I liked doing it so much, I cut that grass for free." - Forrest Gump&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Thanks for reading this far,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-2220021406620986211?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/2220021406620986211/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/12/good-no-great-morning.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2220021406620986211'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2220021406620986211'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/12/good-no-great-morning.html' title='Good, No, Great Morning'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-2873967041105085016</id><published>2009-12-14T15:52:00.004-06:00</published><updated>2009-12-14T17:43:23.015-06:00</updated><title type='text'>It's been far too long.</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;It has been nearly a month and a half. I know, I am a slacker.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I am not sure I have ever felt the pain of loneliness before last night. In fact, yesterday was a blur. (I can't think about it without asking myself, "What the hell happened?") One of the strangest days I can remember. The unusual feeling of being all alone was caused by a culmination of events from yesterday and the days leading up to it, but the one that kept twisting the knife was this:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;I wanted to be in the warm comfort of home but was nearly a thousand miles away from it.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;While in a vulnerable state, the evil one hit me where he knew it would hurt the most. I felt sick. The selfish thought of being alone clouded my heart and mind like the thick fog that covered the road I was driving on. I couldn't go ten minutes without being reminded that I was driving in a car alone to a destination of three days of waiting for a plane show up and give me a ride home. It was annoying, like a kid kicking me in the shins over and over trying to gain my attention. It took me a little while but I soon realized something huge. &lt;i&gt;Loneliness isn't real.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Being alone is impossible. I serve a God who makes the previous statement true. I thought loneliness was sitting there in the passenger seat staring at me straight-faced and never blinking as I drove. My ipod played Jon Foreman's &lt;i&gt;Your Love is Strong&lt;/i&gt; and I prayed it. Then, as if I cracked open the window of a car under water, the Father's presence flooded in. A moment of clarity and beauty at the end of a less than ideal day.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;"I understand you're a man who knows how to get things." - Andy Dufresne, &lt;i&gt;The Shawshank Redemption&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;It's a little ironic that when I felt most alone, all I wanted was to be in the Lone &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7iVqouHuc&amp;amp;feature=PlayList&amp;amp;p=A9630CECBD9A0CDA&amp;amp;playnext=1&amp;amp;playnext_from=PL&amp;amp;index=1"&gt;Star&lt;/a&gt; State,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: left;"&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-2873967041105085016?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/2873967041105085016/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/12/its-been-far-too-long.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2873967041105085016'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2873967041105085016'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/12/its-been-far-too-long.html' title='It&apos;s been far too long.'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-9160644939033680673</id><published>2009-11-01T14:37:00.003-06:00</published><updated>2009-11-01T20:26:00.610-06:00</updated><title type='text'>This is What I Want . . .</title><content type='html'>"What do you want to be when you grow up, Brett?"&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I miss the days when I used to answer that question by saying that I wanted to be something that seems ridiculous like a cowboy, a major league baseball player, a Cowboy, or a surgeon. Unfortunately, the question sounds a little different and the answer has ceased existing these days. It's always looked something like this:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;"So, what are you plans after graduation? What do you want to do?"&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;"I have no idea. What's your favorite color? (subject change)"&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;As much as I don't like this inquiry of my future, I think I have come up with a response, a very vague and truthful response. &lt;i&gt;Adventure&lt;/i&gt;. That's what I want. I think that's what I have always wanted. Although, I have to confess that I can't think about the idea of adventure without hearing Stephen Curtis Chapman's &lt;i&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrrjbTc0urk&amp;amp;feature=PlayList&amp;amp;p=0B5E6DE91024FADB&amp;amp;playnext=1&amp;amp;playnext_from=PL&amp;amp;index=27"&gt;The Great Adventure&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/i&gt;in my head. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The desired adventure has changed over the years. When I was younger, the adventure I was wanting &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7iVqouHuc&amp;amp;feature=PlayList&amp;amp;p=A9630CECBD9A0CDA&amp;amp;playnext=1&amp;amp;playnext_from=PL&amp;amp;index=1"&gt;(&lt;/a&gt;and expecting&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7iVqouHuc&amp;amp;feature=PlayList&amp;amp;p=A9630CECBD9A0CDA&amp;amp;playnext=1&amp;amp;playnext_from=PL&amp;amp;index=1"&gt;)&lt;/a&gt; was usually something related to sports or whatever movie I was obsessed with at the time. As I got older, I still desired adventures from various movies, I just didn't really tell anybody. Now, though, I am desiring an adventure with/for the Gospel.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;To be honest, I have been pretty bored with the Gospel lately. I have been complacent for far too long. There has to be something more than this boring life that I have been living. I am confident that God did not intend for His Gospel and our mission to be easy to do and certainly not boring. I understand, though, that if I am living according to the Father's will, I will have the adventure that I desire. So, if I want to have this Gospel adventure, I know that I need to pursue the Father with all of my being. Once I do that, I believe the adventure will begin.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;How ready am I for an adventure? I have no idea.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;How bad do I want an adventure? You have no idea.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;"The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences."&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="text-align: center;"&gt;- Christopher McCandless, &lt;a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758758/"&gt;Into the Wild&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I hope this is more than just rambling,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-9160644939033680673?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/9160644939033680673/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/11/this-is-what-i-want.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/9160644939033680673'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/9160644939033680673'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/11/this-is-what-i-want.html' title='This is What I Want . . .'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-7139071941674695131</id><published>2009-10-23T00:11:00.004-05:00</published><updated>2009-10-23T12:33:51.297-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Worship is hard sometimes: Part 2</title><content type='html'>I have realized that my last entry was something that I was feeling but didn't really think a whole lot about before writing it. However, I have slept on it, thought about it, discussed it with some smart, Godly people, and now have some more to say about it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There is a reason that I feel like I  can&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7iVqouHuc"&gt;'&lt;/a&gt;t sing a song that declares that I will give everything, all that I have/am, for the the Gospel's sake. It's because I know I am going to walk out side the doors of the church and screw it up. Like I said in my previous post, I want to be able to sing those words and mean it, but I realize there are things that I don't want to give up or miss out on even for the sake of the Kingdom.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I don't think that is a good enough reason.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What is the point of grace if I walk out the door and do everything right? I am a filthy, nasty, sinful mess and God is fully aware of that. Jesus died so that I can sing &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause&lt;/span&gt; with a desire to mean it and actually live it, knowing that I am more than likely going to fail.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A coward refuses to do something that he sees a chance to fail in. The grace of God through the life and death of His son makes us brave.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Needless to say, I am singing that line again and with more passion than ever before.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Thank you, Jesus, for grace.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;". . . fight and you may die. Run and you may live . . . at least a while . . ." - William Wallace, Braveheart&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Brett&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-7139071941674695131?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/7139071941674695131/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/10/worship-is-hard-sometimes-part-2.html#comment-form' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/7139071941674695131'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/7139071941674695131'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/10/worship-is-hard-sometimes-part-2.html' title='Worship is hard sometimes: Part 2'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-3567790454095612501</id><published>2009-10-12T17:43:00.006-05:00</published><updated>2009-10-12T19:31:55.007-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Worship is hard sometimes.</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;When I was a much younger skinny awkward white guy, my mom taught me a little trick to make it look like I was singing when I didn't know the words. She joked that if &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7iVqouHuc&amp;amp;feature=PlayList&amp;amp;p=A9630CECBD9A0CDA&amp;amp;playnext=1&amp;amp;playnext_from=PL&amp;amp;index=1"&gt;I&lt;/a&gt; didn't know the words to a song, I should just sing "watermelon" over and over. This would make it look like I was singing but I really wasn't. I mainly utilized this little trick on Sunday mornings.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;When it comes to worship, I have a hard time singing things like "everything I am for your kingdom's cause." (&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXCoHxX1OC8"&gt;Hillsong United's &lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXCoHxX1OC8"&gt;Hosanna&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt;) In fact, I skip that line...every time.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;I want so bad to sing it, but I want so much worse to mean it.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Thank you, mom, for teaching me the "watermelon" trick. It comes in handy during these worship songs that I tend to sing without actually meaning it.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;"These people come near to me with their mouths and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men." - God Isaiah 29:13 (I can't remember what movie this is from)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;One love,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-3567790454095612501?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/3567790454095612501/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/10/worship-is-hard-sometimes.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/3567790454095612501'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/3567790454095612501'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/10/worship-is-hard-sometimes.html' title='Worship is hard sometimes.'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-2017332472730588043</id><published>2009-10-07T23:09:00.003-05:00</published><updated>2009-10-08T00:26:42.906-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Sidewalks are dumb.</title><content type='html'>By show of hands, how many of you have a problem with sidewalks?&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;You better believe I have my hand in the air. (&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hBYRdQN8zA"&gt;Not waving, because I care&lt;/a&gt;.)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I was walking on campus today and I realized that everyone walks on the sidewalk. I am not much of a betting man (I use the term "man" loosely **) but I would put money on the fact that 96-98% of UMHB students refuse to stray from the cement pathways. Shoot, that maybe true for college students everywhere. It's a fact that the shortest distance between two points on a plane is a straight line, look it up. That is not necessarily true here at UMHB. The shortest distance between two points on campus means taking a left instead of a right when the the sidewalk splits. It blows my mind that more people don't walk on the grass. Why not walk on the grass? How can you argue with facts like these:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;You get to class/work/your dorm/your freshman girlfriend faster, even if you walk slower. &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Less likely to be involved in a cyclists-pedestrian collision.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;More likely to see wildlife.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Your shoes (probably TOMS, Chaco's, or those gladiator looking sandals) will suffer less wear and tear from paved walkways.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Starting tomorrow, I will be a new pedestrian. I am going to walk straight from point &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7iVqouHuc&amp;amp;feature=PlayList&amp;amp;p=A9630CECBD9A0CDA&amp;amp;playnext=1&amp;amp;playnext_from=PL&amp;amp;index=1"&gt;A&lt;/a&gt; to point B. Even if it means walking in the grass. Get your mowers ready, UMHB!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;"Aim small, miss small" Benjamin Martin, &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbtA0TIyoI8"&gt;The Patriot&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Hasta lasagna,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;**I am not a boy but not yet a man. Britney Spears said it best, didn't she?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-2017332472730588043?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/2017332472730588043/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/10/sidewalks-are-dumb.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2017332472730588043'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/2017332472730588043'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/10/sidewalks-are-dumb.html' title='Sidewalks are dumb.'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-6696436427808439260</id><published>2009-10-03T20:58:00.003-05:00</published><updated>2009-10-03T21:25:01.558-05:00</updated><title type='text'>I have not the slightest...</title><content type='html'>You want to know something weird about me? Something that, if you have spent a small amount of time around me, you probably already know? Oh, you do? That's weird but ok. I am not sure you are ready for this.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I have not the slightest idea about what to do with my life.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;There you go. Like I said, you probably already know that. I sometimes have conversations with people concerning this very self-centered topic. The person in the passenger seat or across the table, usually a close friend, mentor, or random Waffle House waitress, asks the question: "Well, what do you love to do?" This is probably number two on my list of questions I hate being asked. It's a little ridiculous that I never have a better answer to it than, "I don't know."&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I have not the slightest idea about what I like to do.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It's true. I am not sure if I am actually passionate about anything. I can be passionate about anything that I need to be passionate about, though. For example, if I were going to a Texas Rangers baseball game, I could easily be a passionate Rangers fan. Ok, bad example? Understood. Here's another one: It's easy to have a lot of passionate about Jesus when I am at a worship service or hanging out with Christian friends. That passion seems to disappear, though, when I should be pursuing the Father. At least when passion is expected or needed, I can conveniently pull it out of my pocket and fool some folks, right? Right. No, wrong. I desire passion, a genuine passion fueled by love. Without love I am nothing and my passion is nothing. Just resounding gongs and clanging cymbals. For me, that kind of passion is a needle in a haystack. It is &lt;a href="http://www.wiggler.gr/wp-content/Waldo.jpg"&gt;Waldo&lt;/a&gt;. It is hiding under Harry Potter's invisibility cloak, if you will...and you should. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Well, I say all this because it is cluttering my brain and it feels good to get it out in the open. I find it coming up in my thoughts almost as often as how much easier it would have been for the &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFef5A-pClM"&gt;Titans&lt;/a&gt; to win state if Gary Bertier hadn't been injured in that car crash. I guess, it just goes to show that I don't know myself very well...&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7iVqouHuc&amp;amp;feature=PlayList&amp;amp;p=A9630CECBD9A0CDA&amp;amp;playnext=1&amp;amp;playnext_from=PL&amp;amp;index=1"&gt;at&lt;/a&gt; all.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I think I referred to this blog as "the open" at the beginning of the previous paragraph. Yep, sure did. That's dumb.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;"To live...to live would be an awfully big adventure." - Peter Banning, &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z6ggBzZIFM&amp;amp;feature=PlayList&amp;amp;p=15155CC49F0CD2DE&amp;amp;index=43"&gt;Hook (5:05)&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Thanks for letting me waste your time,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-6696436427808439260?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/6696436427808439260/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/10/i-have-not-slightest.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/6696436427808439260'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/6696436427808439260'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/10/i-have-not-slightest.html' title='I have not the slightest...'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-8711674364793245125</id><published>2009-10-01T11:30:00.002-05:00</published><updated>2009-10-01T12:09:21.006-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Round 2</title><content type='html'>A few months ago, I started this blog hoping to document my experiences this past summer with student life. As you can see, I failed pretty horribly at keeping this thing updated. A mere three posts (including the one that was one sentence proclaiming how bad at this I was/am) is pitiful, but I am ready to try this again.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I don't really understand why I am giving this thing another shot, but I think I know where the inspiration came from. I randomly came across &lt;a href="http://theblakebutler.tumblr.com/post/193106665/im-a-starter"&gt;this&lt;/a&gt; blog from Blake Butler, a guy who I only know of because I am friends with his brother. The first thing I read were his reasons for his return to blogging. I liked what I read, so now I am doing the same thing . . . except with less creative writing, smaller words, and bad grammar. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I have no idea what I am going to write about or how often, but I am looking forward to it. Right now the plan is to write about whatever is making me think about stuff, and to hopefully update on here once a week. I would say "don't expect anything real smart, funny, or good" but I think it would be better to say "don't expect anything," because historically, there has been a lot of not putting anything on here. Make sense&lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7iVqouHuc&amp;amp;feature=PlayList&amp;amp;p=A9630CECBD9A0CDA&amp;amp;playnext=1&amp;amp;playnext_from=PL&amp;amp;index=1"&gt;?&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;"How did I escape? With difficulty. How did I plan this moment? With pleasure."&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;- Edmond Dantes, The Count of Monte Cristo &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENZ1qSKpx28&amp;amp;feature=related"&gt;(7:15)&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I realize this movie quote has nothing to do with the preceding sentences and will usually be the case. I just like the quote.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-8711674364793245125?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/8711674364793245125/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/10/round-2.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/8711674364793245125'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/8711674364793245125'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/10/round-2.html' title='Round 2'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-497839988656904632</id><published>2009-06-19T23:24:00.001-05:00</published><updated>2009-06-19T23:26:01.507-05:00</updated><title type='text'>I am horrible . . .</title><content type='html'>. . . at this whole blogging thing.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-497839988656904632?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/497839988656904632/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/06/i-am-horrible.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/497839988656904632'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/497839988656904632'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/06/i-am-horrible.html' title='I am horrible . . .'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-5073475595397927334</id><published>2009-06-01T21:13:00.003-05:00</published><updated>2009-06-01T22:28:37.627-05:00</updated><title type='text'>camp. day one.</title><content type='html'>Student Life is incredible.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Today was the first day of camp with real-life students. Up until now it has been simply training for, talking about, and anticipating the rest of this summer, but today was the day that I have been looking forward to for so long. The team I am a part of, the orange team, is so . . . Well, before I start on them, let me tell you a funny story.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Preface: The first day of camp is registration day. All of the youth groups show up and after a few hours of complete chaos, each and every student is registered and ready for an great week. Anyway, my job during all of this craziness is to greet youth groups as they arrive on campus. This includes leading the youth minister to the registration office or to a parking lot to unload and then register. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Actual story: After being told what my registration &lt;a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NyOB5yCbsE"&gt;duties&lt;/a&gt; (start at :59) were, I was super pumped about getting started, so when I saw a 15 passenger van with a trailer behind it, I  begin to greet the youth minister. The guy is relatively young. Long, curly, orange hair and a scraggly beard. Of course, it's one of those young youth ministers straight out of seminary, or not. The kind that all the old wrinkly members of the church shake their head at when he is being the least bit passionate during worship. As I approach, he jokingly says something about me being Aaron Keyes because of my hair. The conversation carries on and I ask him if he is the youth minister. Apparently this question confused him. I assume this because of the look on his face after hearing the question. He laughs a bit and says, "Yeah, man, I am the youth minister." This is the turning point of the story. It is then that I look in the of the van, see only four other people, and simply say, "Wow. I am an idiot." The 'youth minister' introduces himself as Matt and gives me the wow-that-was-embarrassing-but-don't-worry-about-it-bro fist bump. Turns out it was &lt;a href="http://www.myspace.com/mattpapa"&gt;Matt Papa&lt;/a&gt; the worship leader.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;So, that's the story. Sort of embarrassing but I got a good laugh out of it. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I would try to explain how awesome my team is but there are two problems with that:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;1.) I am not sure there is enough room on here for the words necessary to do it justice. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;2.) The team is indescribable.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Our God Reigns,&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Brett&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-5073475595397927334?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/5073475595397927334/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/06/camp-day-one.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/5073475595397927334'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/5073475595397927334'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/06/camp-day-one.html' title='camp. day one.'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4072584682120147707.post-7259640248769858943</id><published>2009-05-23T10:03:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2009-05-23T10:04:03.842-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Well, maybe you've been through this before, but it's my first time so please ignore . . .</title><content type='html'>&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);"&gt;This is the first post of many posts (hopefully) that will be posted by myself, the poster, throughout the summer, at least. So if you are reading this, congratulations. You are now apart of an elite group of, I don't know, three maybe four people that will read this. Give yourself a pat on the back.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);"&gt;The purpose of this blog is to document my summer with Student Life. I will be traveling to various locations around the country to work as a mission site coordinator all summer. What's that? You don't know what a mission site coordinator is? It means I will take a group of youth students to a location in the community to be servants sharing Christ's love in a very practical way. I am extremely excited about the opportunities that are ahead of me. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);"&gt;I will be boarding a flight to Birmingham, Alabama here in a few hours and I can't wait to get there and meet all of the people on my team. Hold up! I am getting ahead of myself. I can't wait to fasten my seat belt on that plane and take off! Flying is fun. To bad I don't get to do it often.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);"&gt;I guess that's about all I got for this first one. I am so ready to see what God has in store for this summer. I have been learning a lot so far since school has been out and I am eager to learn even more as the summer progresses. See you in 'Bama!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);"&gt;Our God Reigns,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style=""&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);"&gt;Brett&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4072584682120147707-7259640248769858943?l=brett-land.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/feeds/7259640248769858943/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/05/well-maybe-youve-been-through-this.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/7259640248769858943'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4072584682120147707/posts/default/7259640248769858943'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brett-land.blogspot.com/2009/05/well-maybe-youve-been-through-this.html' title='Well, maybe you&apos;ve been through this before, but it&apos;s my first time so please ignore . . .'/><author><name>Brett</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14830639791013311600</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oW7szRszMXs/TFnTX7S1kwI/AAAAAAAAAC8/50rP32bBq48/S220/37345_538331183449_61802848_31598012_4287604_n.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry></feed>
