Blessed To Be A Witness

Ok, so I'm bored today..
1. Put your iTunes on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write that song name down no matter how silly it makes you look.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Sunshine - Matt Costa

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Liars and Battlelines - Rookie of the Year

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Voodoo Chile - Jimi Hendrix

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Losing You - The New Amsterdams

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Better Open The Door - Motion City Soundtrack

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Glass Onion - The Beatles

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Back 2 Good - Matchbox Twenty

WHAT DO YOU OFTEN THINK ABOUT?
Let Your Troubles Roll By - Carbon Leaf

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Dismantle. Repair. (Acoustic) - Anberlin

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Lonely Nation - Switchfoot

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
I Mostly Copy Other People - The Almost

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Blanket Of Ghosts - Dustin Kensrue

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Let That Be Enough - Switchfoot
(Wow, that's actually a possibility...huh...cool)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
The Everglow - Mae

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Your Love Is Amazing - Lincoln Brewster

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
NYC Weather Report - Five For Fighting

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Losing You - John Butler Trio

WHAT WILL YOU NAME THIS?
Blessed To Be A Witness - Ben Harper

This one's for Courtney Joy Duzan

I'll take some lyrics for 1000 please Alex....

I was talking to a new friend tonight, and she was telling me what she thinks about choices. Ironically enough, I wrote this last night. It's about the choice that most of us make every day to pick our stuff and our money and our own selfish desires over connection with other people. We all choose to be lonely every now and again. And this is my rant about it. It's called 'Me is Lonely'



Me is such a lonely word
It's absurd to think that I could be heard
Above the noise that i'm living in every day
The corner office is an island
Isolating us all
From the rhythm of life and the fear we might fall
Here now we've defined success
As this lexus when it's really on the next bus
And I've gotta believe that this can't be all that there is
But cutting through the cacophony
Is a refrain and a simple melody
Coming here to take me far away

Me is such a lonely word
It's absurd to think that I could be heard
Above the noise that I've been living in every day
Because life was meant to be lived together
Life was meant to be lived together
Life was meant to be lived together

Me is such a lonely word
I'm just as ignorant for all that I've learned
And the struggle rages on deep within my heart
Life has found me in a rut
Stuck in reverse running out of luck
In the quicksand suffocating agonizingly slow
We are such a crazy race
We talk love but in practice we hate
And this mask I have on is growing cumbersome
The greatest tragedy of all of them
Is the man who gains all the world and then
Keeps it to himself and so loses his soul



The melody is really chill and kick back. Kind of a surf-rock vibe to it...

R&R

Today was outstanding.

I was the only one at my house today.

I wrote a couple songs.

Seeing as how we have about 6 inches of snow on the ground right now, I threw some snowballs at a tree just to see how many times i could hit it.

I experimented with two of my favorite beverages, Chai Tea and Columbian Coffee. If you get the right mixture, it can be quite delicious.

I went to my brother's basketball game. they suffered their first loss of the season. oh well.

I came home. Wrote some more lyrics.

And now I'm going to bed. Second Saturdays tomorrow. I'm stoked!!

And perhaps a couple songs worth of lyrics coming soon.

I'm leaving on a jetplane, I don't know when I'll be back again...

I got an email last night.

My student visa was approved.

All systems are go for AUSTRALIA!!!!

Hillsong, here I come!!!

This means all of my dealings with the government are done for awhile.

Darn, I'm really gonna miss this ridiculous red tape and bureaucracy.

Not really.

But I WILL miss all of you.

So come visit me in Sydney.

Any time from January 15th 2008 - Early January 2010.

It's a little depressing, and it's about leaving, but you'll read it anyways....

Ok, so it's been awhile since I posted lyrics on here. Mostly because I can't seem to finish a song these days. I've got a bunch of partials, but no completed ones. So i finished one. And I finished one that is about 15 months old. I first wrote it when I moved to Florida in August '06. And I just finished it, in light of my impending move to Australia. Here it is, I call it 'Airplane'.


My stuff in two suitcases
My life regenerated
I'll be one less distraction in this town
It's twelve inches or less
From my heart to my head
So why cant' they work together now
My flight is like a fortress
Meant to protect my heart
From my mind and getting too close
Your face has been forever
Burned into my memory
Like a photograph that I can't dispose

So pilot take me far away from here
Don't you let this turbulence give your heart fear
Cause it's a long way down
it's a long way down

My stuff in two suitcases
This place is over rated
This town is full of distractions
Bright summer sunny days
Rid no one of their pain
Or this collective song of dejection
Goodbyes feel insincere
All i've got is what i'm leaving here
I'll let you pick up the pieces
I still taste your maybelline
I know I leave a tragic scene
But i don't need to defend to you my reasons

I'll fly away
I'll fly away
I'll fly away
With the hope that I'll return someday





It's got kind of a laid back fingerstyle blues feel to it...if that helps you hear it at all...you like?

An ode...

....to my beloved Chuck T's.



Oh Chuck Taylors
How you've served me so well
You're black with white laces
For 70 years you still sell

My feet you always adorn
With your wild embrace
Never shall I let scorn
Come to your sweet name

Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is thanksgiving.
So I'm going to take a break from my regular opining about everything that is wrong with the world and give you a list of things that I have to be thankful for.

-The fact that I serve a God who loves me and has a plan for my life and has blessed me with the rest of this list.
-A family who loves and supports me
-Good friends who put up with my ridiculous self
-A church that encourages and challenges me
-A country that doesn't murder me because I disagree
-A roof to sleep under
-The decadent beauty of creation
-Music and the ability to make it
-A couple meals a day
-Legs and arms and fingers and toes


Amidst all my complaining and the way that I'm never satisfied with anything, I have a lot to be thankful for. And I know for a fact I could come up with a much longer list should I take the time to sit and make it. But as I look at that list, there is nothing on there that I don't take for granted on a daily basis. There are plenty of people in this world who do not enjoy many of the simple things that I take as necessity. And the holidays, which can be a great time of connection, can also be a rather lonely time. I would like to take this moment to encourage all of you who might happen upon this to look for those less fortunate than yourself. And do something about it. Ghandi once said "...You must be the change you wish to see in the world." I think he may have been on to something.

Everybody's just a stranger, but that's the danger in going my own way...

Hello blogland. I apologize for the long wait. I've just been quite a busy boy. I'll spare you all of the gory details though. Today is day 30. Which means that I only have one more day of vegetarianism. Wow. I am, however, having quite a tussle with myself as to whether or not I will stick with it. Who knows...I guess we'll find out tomorrow. I'll be sure to let you know though.
I also wanted to let you all know of something that I realized about myself the other day. It is a warning of sorts. I was talking to a couple of my good friends the other day, and the topic of relationships came up. Now, when I say 'relationships', I actually mean 'people whom you are romantically connected with'. Because I have relationships with lots of people. But I am nowhere near interested in most of them. In fact, I would that life is entirely defined by relationship. One relationship with Christ that influences all the others. But that's another discussion.
At some point in this conversation, I lamented the fact that I am probably going to be single for the rest of my life. I said this rather casually and in a borderline sarcastic manner, because I don't actually plan on this. But one of my friends said something that I've been chewing on all weekend. It was along these lines: "Well it's because you're just kind of the independent type".
I've realized that this is true. And that i don't like it. It's not only true in the 'relationship' context, but in all of my relationships as well. It feels like I don't pursue people the way that Christ did. I only let people in if they show interest in me. This is disturbing to me. Well, I'm off to work. Maybe more later. Some lyrics or something less depressing....

...If a car keeps driving forward and backward over the same spot, will it ever get out??

I feel stuck in a rut.

Priorities (Lets not put the cart before the horse)

Part 1. Vegitarianism. Days 3-7.

Wow, a lot has happened in the last 4 days. I saw Mute Math and Eisley on Tuesday. Switchfoot, Relient K, and Ruth on Wednesday. And all the while I've been sticking to my veggie guns. And it's actually getting easier. And i rather like it.

I also feel compelled to let you all know about something was inspiring to me. While I was working yesterday, an older gentleman came up wanting some donuts. Generally not a strange occurance, but this guy was deaf. After nearly 5 minutes of trying to communicate, I finally got his order right and he paid me and I gave him his change. He mouthed 'thank you' and got in his car and left.
This is significant, really I promise. The entire time we were struggling to communicate, i never once saw frustration on this man's face. In fact, he seemed to find our predicament rather humorous. And that got me thinking. Why? Perhaps he had just gotten used to it. He's been deaf for so long that it's just normal to him. But this guy had a joy about him. Like he really relished life. So the experience has me wondering about my priorities. The one thing in my life right now that constantly gives me satisfaction and brings me happiness is music. The music made by other people, as well as my own. If, say, I became deaf, I would not be able to experience music. So where would that leave me? On the top of a building ready to jump? I mean, i know it sounds drastic, but that would be a giant change for me.
So here i sit, eating mac and cheese, wondering. Maybe i need to reevaluate myself and the things I hold near and dear. I recently posted some lyrics lamenting our shortsightedness as a race. I have found that same affliction in myself. So maybe, I should be focusing first on loving and then second on music and other things that, ultimately, won't last past this life.
That man came to in for more donuts today. And seemed legitimately excited to see me. And I found myself pretty pumped to see him too. I hope to find interaction with my new friend on a regular basis. Perhaps it will keep my priorities in tact.

And that ends part 1.



Part 2. Lyricism.

This one's called 'Let It Be Love'

What is the reason? What is the rhyme?
What is the cost of this wasted time?
What is this season? The rainclouds are fine
When the silver lining meets my eyes

Whoa Oh love is everlasting
Whoa Oh sing of this salvation
Whoa Oh love is everlasting
Whoa Oh sing of this salvation

I'm guilty of treason. There's no point in trying.
grace as a consequence does not fit the crime
Can I sing louder? Will my voice carry far?
Is there anything meaningful left in this life?

rpt ch.

Let it be love
Let it be love
Let it be love and nothing else
(4x)

I am the reason. We are the rhyme.
That the Son of Heaven came here to die
Sing this one softly. Or sing it out loud.
The world needs to know what we've got in our sights



As always, criticism is appreciated.

Napkin Poetry and Days 2 and 3

Part 1.
Well, this vegetarian thing is not as hard as anticipated. Day 2 found me back at subway for another salad, while day 3 (today) provided me with the knowledge (compliments of Taco Bell), that one can still eat unhealthily while being a vegetarian. Now of course, sprinkled here and there, there have been little salads, fruits, wheat thins, and whatever else i find around here that isn't meat. But I'm rather enjoying this so far. Stay tuned for more.

Part 2.
Some lyrics. Or potential lyrics. I wrote this on an airplane napkin on my way to Maine. I know, it sounds rather cliche and ridiculous, but i really didn't have any paper on me. So sue me. The chorus contains a line trying to capture the irony of me attempting to write a song on 6 beautiful JetBlue napkins. Whatever. Here goes.


Untitled (as of yet)

Poets write for daughters of kings
And visionaries see the change they will bring
Wires and airplanes and ideas connect us
But I feel so disconnected tonight
So disconnected tonight

So I'll write this napkin poetry
In hopes that you'll come rescue me
and I'll find reason to believe
It's not like I doubt myself
It's just you that I don't trust
Oh faith, don't leave me high and dry

Poets write for daughters of kings
And lovers give their hearts without strings
Children and stormclouds and stars inspire us
But I feel so disenchanted tonight
so disenchanted tonight.

This is uncomfortable now
This is the way it goes
This is the reason I'm alive.

Day 1.

Today was day one of my challenge. It was not difficult. I worked all day. I had some eggs in the morning. And some apple cider. For lunch, I had a a salad from subway with some veggies and cheese on it.

Stay tuned. I'm sure this will get much more challenging.

Not a vegan, you silly goose....

.....I'm a vegetarian.

So here's the deal. For the longest time (ok, so maybe like 3 years), I've been wanting to spend some time as a vegetarian. Just to see what it's like. So tonight, I have decided to do an experiment. I'm calling it '30 Days as a Vegetarian'. It's pretty self-explanatory really. I will spend the next thirty days as a vegetarian. I will eat no red meat, poultry, or pork. Fish will be allowed, but never fear, I don't eat much of it. Also, eggs and dairy will be allowed.

I will chronicle the health effects, side effects, symptoms of withdrawal, and my over-all feelings for the next thirty days. I hope you all will enjoy this as much as I do!

This is effective immediately. But just to make it clean and neat, tomorrow, Saturday, October 13th, shall be day number 1.

-Joshua David

Is this saving grace or am I just saving face?

And now, my first real post. Some lyrics. For which there will be an explanation some other time. It's called 'Infinity'.


Is this my life? Or is it just a dream?
Is it louder where I am or where the silence speaks?
Is this my home? Or just a foreign land?
Is this magic you possess? Or just slight of hand?

So let it be known, that I won't be satisfied
Until it all goes down, and we find the other side.

I don't wanna be shortsighted
I don't wanna lose myself
I don't wanna be ruled by my doubt
I want You to be enough

Is this saving grace? Or am I just saving face?
Is it idealistic to believe that love could rule this place?
Is this my heart? Or is it in my head?
Does knowledge build me up until my spirit is all dead?

So let it be known, that I won't be satisfied
Until it all goes down, and we find the other side.

I wanna wake up from this dream in forever
I wanna wake up from this dream in forever
I wanna fly from this useless endeavor
I wanna know that I'm alive

Hello

Hello, oh world of blogspot.

I'm decided to put my musings here.

Stay tuned.