The day after Thanksgiving, I was asked along with Nicole Witt, Brian White, and Billy Montana, to fly down to Dallas. Celia Whitler asked us to come down to play our songs to celebrate Celia's friend Kathleen Baskin-Bell. Kathleen has been bravely battling cancer for a couple years now to find out that it had spread. So, what did Kathleen decide to do with her 10 or so days she was told she had left? Celebrate!! One of the many things she loved was music, so she wanted to spend last Friday night with family, friends, and music. We arrived to find the street lined with cars that any valet service would be jealous of, a lawn filled with white paper bags lit up with candles inside and inspirational messages wriitten on the outside, and a sweet quaint house right out of a Norman Rockwell painting. We were greeted by a smiling Kathleen in the front yard, so gracious that we would fly down and take the time out to come and play for her. Just one look at her and you felt like you'd known her your whole life. Her eyes were bright and her spirit was on fire - soaking up every moment like a flower savors the rain.

Walt Wilkins drove a couple hours to be a part of the evening because he'd heard how much of a fan Kathleen was of his. In all, we ended up playing a couple hours of songs that were funny, reverent, emotional, and uplifting. Throughout the night, I couldn't help but notice how tears would suddenly hit different people, and how unique laughter looked when mixed with the fresh remnants of tears. It was a surreal experience to say the least. We ended the night listening to Nicole singing a stirring acapella "Oh Night Divine", and divine it truly was. As we packed up our guitars, Katheleen asked me what my favorite food was and I said lasagna is in my top 5 - to which I thought she was going to wrap up some of the leftovers from the kitchen - and she said "..I'll make sure its ready and warm when you get to heaven..."  It was hard to keep it together, but how can you break down when the one who has every right to lose it is smiling with a blessed assurance that all is well.

I can only pray that i would have an ounce of the dignity that Kathleen showed us all that night. We all have a terminal disease called "life" that none of us will escape. Some might even think its a blessing to know when you're gonna go so that you could live like you're dying. Well, everyday is a gift and every day we have a choice to unwrap it or leave it under the tree. So I pray for all of us to make the most of what God has given us and cherish what really matters. It ain't "the next song we write" or what "artist is cutting" or "the best gig or songwriting deal", like Kathleen knew, its family, friends, and the quality of experience we soak in that make up this short but colorful fabric called  life.

So we all came back a little different and changed for the better, moved by Kathleen's faith, and nudged a little bit to try and be more like her. It is with a solemn heart to say I found out today that she left this earth to go be with God. My prayers are for her husband Bill, her 5 year old son Skyler, her family, and the multitude of friends who's lives were brushed with the presence of an angel's wings.

Here is a link to a story the Dallas Morning news ran on the front page the day after we played. It will give you a tiny glimpse into how remarkable Kathleen was, but I can tell you it doesn't come close to who she was in person - a fresh breath from the winds of heaven. I can't wait to taste that lasagna she's got cooking!!

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/112708dnmetbaskinball.4a72148.html?ocp=1

And here is a personal note from Kathleen's husband Bill......

"Rev. Kathleen Baskin-Ball died this morning at 10:15am in her home. Sunday was a truly glorious day. Celebrating God's love, she held and baptized 37 of God's beautiful children, youth, and adults on Sunday afternoon. Suncreek's youth choir filled her den following the baptism service and sang mightily of faith while joy, laughter, and tears flowed. As I helped her into bed on Sunday night, she gave thanks for the day and expressed that she was ready to die. She said that her body was very weak and it was about time to give her body true rest.

On Monday, she spent the day in bed. Her body started to shut down and her breathing slowed. Throughout Monday night, we stayed awake to make sure that she was comfortable and free from pain.

I feel great loss. Yet, beginning Monday night, I started feeling a head to toe sense of joy. It was a feeling that her much deserved peace was near.

We did think that she would live a little longer. Yet, the time seems right.

I pray that as you face her loss you are able to find the peace that Kathleen and I found over the last few weeks.

Skyler and I need your prayers, but Kathleen has set a clear example for us about how to keep stepping forward and living a faithful life when facing adversity.

I know Kathleen would want me to tell you that she loves you!

Much Love,

Bill

Randy Pausch Inspired Millions

Randy Pausch, the professor at Carnegie Mellon University who inspired countless students in the classroom and others worldwide through his highly acclaimed last lecture, has died of complications from pancreatic cancer. He was 47.

Also a Carnegie Mellon alumnus, Pausch co-founded the Entertainment Technology Center and led researchers who created Alice, a revolutionary way to teach computer programming. He was widely respected in academic circles for a unique interdisciplinary approach, bringing together artists, dramatists and designers to break new ground by working in collaboration with computer scientists.

Outside the classroom, he gained public fame for delivering what would come to be known as "The Last Lecture." On Sept. 18, 2007, only a month after doctors told him that he had three-to-six months to live following a recurrence of pancreatic cancer, he presented a lecture called "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" to a packed auditorium at Carnegie Mellon.

The moving and often humorous talk recounted his efforts to achieve such childhood dreams as becoming a professional football player, experiencing zero gravity and developing Disney World attractions. In the process, he shared his insights on finding the good in other people, working hard to overcome obstacles and living generously.

"If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself," Pausch said. "The dreams will come to you."

The video appeared on countless websites and has been viewed by millions. Appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show, ABC's Good Morning America and the CBS Evening News followed.

A book version, "The Last Lecture" co-written by Jeff Zaslow of the Wall Street Journal (and a fellow Carnegie Mellon alumnus), became a best-seller upon its release this spring.

"Randy had an enormous and lasting impact on Carnegie Mellon," said Carnegie Mellon President Jared L. Cohon. "A brilliant researcher and gifted teacher, he was a key member of our Human-Computer Interaction Institute and co-founder of the Entertainment Technology Center. His love of teaching, his sense of fun and his brilliance came together in the Alice project, which teaches students computer programming while enabling them to do something fun — making animated movies and games. Carnegie Mellon — and the world — are better places for having had Randy Pausch in them."

Pausch was also a pioneer in the development of virtual reality, including creating the popular Building Virtual Worlds class.

A memorial service at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh is being planned; details will be announced at a later date.

He is survived by his wife, Jai, and three children: Chloe, Dylan and Logan. The family requests that donations on his behalf be directed to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 7000, El Segundo, CA 90245, or to Carnegie Mellon's Randy Pausch Memorial Fund, which the university will use primarily to support continued work on the Alice project.

For more information on Randy's life and legacy, read In Memoriam: Randy Pausch, Innovative Computer Scientist at Carnegie Mellon, Launched Education Initiatives, Gained Worldwide Acclaim for Last Lecture.

How do illegal down loads effect the music business?
It seem I keep getting asked that same ole question over and over again, Ok here it goes.
First (the cause) Todays generation came along at a time when downloading was still in it's infancy
and no one seriously ever though song theft would become such a problem. Kids left alone ungoverned
in front of their computers quickly realized the ease and convenience of down loading never understanding
the ramifications, after a while "free" becomes routine and easily justified and eventually..............it simply
becomes part of life and behold the new "free" culture is born. If you'd been getting apples from the apple tree in your neighbors orchard since you were two years old then suddenly someone tells you that taking those apples was stealing, you'd be like.... Why thats absurd! You'd passionately say, I know for a fact those apples are "free" I've been getting them "free" my whole life, they've got to be "free" heck my neighbor has thousands of them! .....Hmmmm. While it's true that one neighbor taking an apple from time to time is most likely harmless, imagine the entire community taking apples, the orchard couldn't support it's self then we would have how many apples? thats right, eventually zero, oh, unless of course you want lesser quality apples shipped in that aren't as fresh. Get the picture? This generation isn't full of bad kids, it's only human nature to want the best deal on something and the easiest access to it, "free" is tempting to everyone no matter how wrong it might sometimes be, I mean, how could something that doesn't seem tangible like music cost anything? Right? Now (the effect) First, I want you to list your top twenty five songs of all time, just bare with me...... Now, unless you are out on the very furthest fringes of society, odds are that those very songs you love so much were created by songwriters who have been honing their skills since birth practically, logging in more hours learning their respected craft than a nuclear physicist. Think Im joking? You can learn to make an atomic bomb with some degree of skill at a number of collages
(Good luck Finding good plutonium these day's!) But you can't learn to paint the equivalent of a Sistene Chapel or learn to compose music that rivals Beethoven's 5th Symphony or even a modern hit song with out first having a God given gift to start with. Then comes the paying your dues part, yeah lets talk about that for a second. Statistically in nashville alone, for every successful songwriter "successful" meaning a minimum income of 100k for 5 years or more. there are 25,000 unsuccessful writers, meaning many of those 25,000 people have risked it all, sold everything they had just to get the chance to make a living as a songwriter... only to fail. You don't believe all that crap? Go down to lower broadway on any Friday night and ask around, you will most likely get more hard luck stories than you bargained for, all real, all genuine...... BTW if they happen to be standing on the sidewalk playin' a song with their guitar case open, be a pal and throw in a couple of bucks......... after that, if you still think music or any art for that matter should be "free" Well, all I can do is say is God bless ya' anyway and take one last shot of showing you the light. Now follow me closely! If song writers don't get paid, there are no songs, no songs means no concert tours, no concert tours means no artist, no artist means no records, no records means no record labels or publishers, no songs means no musicians, which means no music stores, which means all sound company's lighting company's CD player, Stereo, mp3 player, guitar, bass, drum, piano, keyboard, wind instrument, brass instrument, amplifiers, accessories,ect,ect and tour bus manufacturers and their hundreds of thousands of employees would just be out of luck and out of a job, No more movie or tv theme songs, that means no more Monday Night Football song! And the movie Jaws without it;s bass cello goin nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah, isn't that scary! no more marching bands in the parade, no more wedding songs, At this point I bet your missin' the ole jukebox, even elevator music should be sounding good about now.........wait..........hang on........ shhhhhhh, I sense you turning the corner on this subject, Hey, mama said twas a gift I had. Lighten up Im just having some fun with ya' Just remember this.......... It All Starts With A Song!

AnthonySmith

This is a great article on Nashville songwriting...Thanks Luke!!

http://www.spiritmag.com/2008_06/features/ft3.php

This is an interesting perspective of our elections thru the eyes of a notable terrorist.....i found it online.....

"As the elections are heating up between the Kuffaar, curiosity seeps into the minds of those who wonder what the future would hold with one of the three major candidates. Besides the clear fact that voting for a Kaafir is Haraam, the interesting race in the elections make us always wonder how the world would be with one of the candidates in the oval office. Would there be total destruction? Would the US Army gain a humiliating defeat via being forced out of the Countries they invaded? Would another Muslim Country be invaded?

On a side note, isn't funny how the world awaits the new President of America… as if to say "we are waiting for the new President of the [New] World [Order]"? It's simply because the one who sits in the White House creates the most Fasaad (corruption) upon the earth.

So let's briefly look at what life might be like under Obama, Clinton and McCain (may Allah curse them all).

Starting with McCain, the only thing we can say is that what happened to the Japanese citizens in America is not ruled out for the Muslims. By far, he is the worst of candidates and we wouldn't be surprised if he's a hardcore Zionist.

If McCain were to win, it would be both good and bad for the Muslims. It would be bad because of what is obvious from his putrid wickedness. And it would be good because he would wake up more Muslims (like how Bush did).

For Clinton, she reminds us of Bhutto. Since she is trying to compete in a man's game, she's going to do whatever she can to prove to them (as well as the world) that she is 'manly enough' to take on the responsibility. She'll try to prove her masculinity through her femininity… and that's where the mess will come.

It's no wonder why the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wassallam) said, "The nation that has entrusted its affairs to a woman cannot be successful." Aside from a woman's weakness of her period and the affects it has on her (as has been proven scientifically), the pressure around her will be so great and momentous that it will be easy for her to make an enormous mistake that is rooted in her emotional veins.

If Clinton is elected as President, it would be good for the Ummah. Why? Because America would crumble very fast.

Now let's move to the center of discussion: Obama.

Some say he resembles Malcolm X in some ways. Some say he’s the President that America has been waiting for. Some say that he is the only candidate that the American people can trust. Whatever is said about him doesn’t mean a thing to those who truly follow Laa Ilaaha Illallah. This is because our testimony of faith is a disaster for the disbelievers just as how it was a disaster for the Quraysh, Romans, and Persians.

Put it simply, if Obama wins, then it will destroy America’s willpower in ‘Iraaq. We are almost certain that he will invade Pakistan, and Allah knows best, because of his clear statements regarding invading it. And we are almost certain that he will support Israel against Filistine because of his clear-cut statements in the Haaretz Newspaper interview. Therefore, he’s good for the Ummah because he will make the lion in the Ummah awaken in a violent roar from East to West. Although he presents himself as cunning, a great majority of Muslims can see right through it just as we saw right through Bush’s smirk.

In reality, whoever is put in the White House is because Allah Ta’aala decided it. Allah is paving the road for victory for the Ummah. He is preparing us for victory, stage after stage. He granted the Ummah Jihaad in Afghanistan during the Soviet war so that we would learn how to fight in the modern age. That was stage one. Then we took those skills, refined them, and used them in Somalia, Sheeshaan, Yemen, ‘Iraaq, Algeria, Jazeeratul ‘Arabiyya and so on. That’s stage two. The next stage in our opinion, and Allah knows best, is focused on giving Muslims a sound victory and a base to launch the next Caliphate whether this is through the pulling of US forces out of ‘Iraaq or a crushing defeat. Whoever Allah Ta’aala puts in that seat to rule the world as the next Pharaoh (or Sheba), is actually a plan of His, The Most Wise, to pave the minds, hearts, and roads to the pathway of Bait al-Maqdis, the Promised Land."

Words cannot say enough how melancholy I feel because of  the passing of two pioneers of music that I looked up to, Larry Norman and Jackie Street. I remember being like ten years old watching Larry Norman, a pioneer of bringing contemporary music into the church, jamming with a rock and roll band singing about God and spiritual subjects. From that time on, that's all I wanted to do, play music that moved people, weather it be spiritual or not, but something that moved hearts. I feel as though I am a world away from that ten year old boy, but I remember it as an "epiphany", as much as it can be to a young dude with heavy metal hair and was a drummer with two kick drums...yeah you know the look. I found some info on his passing and his LAST WORDS really moved me...check this out:

I have just received the news that Larry Norman, a pioneer of Jesus Music, Christian Rock and Contemporary Christian Music, passed away this morning (February 24, 2008) at age 60 in Oregon.

Larry dictated the following message to his friend Allen Fleming who typed these words into Larry's computer:
________________________________

I feel like a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God's hand reaching down to pick me up. I have been under medical care for months. My wounds are getting bigger. I have trouble breathing. I am ready to fly home.

My brother Charles is right, I wont be here much longer. I cant do anything about it. My heart is too weak. I want to say goodbye to everyone. In the past you have generously supported me with prayer and finance and we will probably still need financial help

My plan is to be buried in a simple pine box with some flowers inside. But still it will be costly because of funeral arrangement, transportation to the gravesite, entombment, coordination, legal papers etc. However money is not really what I need, I want to say I love you.

I'd like to push back the darkness with my bravest effort. There will be a funeral posted here on the website, in case some of you want to attend. We are not sure of the date when I will die. Goodbye, farewell, we will meet again.

Goodbye, farewell, we'll meet again
Somewhere beyond the sky.
I pray that you will stay with God
Goodbye, my friends, goodbye.

Larry

Wow...."that push back the darkness" really got to me. I hope I live every day to "push back the darkness" with light in my life, enjoy the people around me that mean the most to me, and live with a purpose. Don't get me wrong, I am not really sad at all, just "moved"....

Also, a bass player that I watched from ten years old on, named Jackie Street, passed earlier this week. I've admired Jackie as a kid, watching him come into town playing bass with numerous acts, on stage and just rocking the house. That man could groove!! The cool thing is many years later, moving to nashville and being a drummer, I got to eventually meet Jackie and even record with him in the studio. That man could groove!! I am so glad that the man lived up to the legend I had built up in my mind. He was one of the sweetest men I had ever met. Softspoken, but funny. A pipe in his hand, never saw it lit. Always an inspiration of how to treat complete strangers. That man could groove!!! Not in just a musical sense, but I got the feeling he was completely where he was supposed to be in his life, in his perfect place. In his life, that man could groove!!!

So heaven got a couple more cats this week and for that I am not really sad but moved to appreciate the gifts we all have and this crazy town full of people trying to find "their groove"....

I will end with one of my favorite poems by Bukowski....

WM3 - CALL TO ACTION
Category: Life

I'm writing this letter today because three men have spent the past 13 years in prison for crimes they didn't commit. On May 5th, 1993 in West Memphis, Arkansas three 8 eight-year-old boys, Steve Branch, Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore were murdered. Three teenage boys, Damien Echols, Jesse Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin were convicted of the murders in 1994. Jason Baldwin and Jesse Misskelley received life sentences without parole, and Damien Echols sits on death row. I encourage everyone to see the HBO documentaries, Paradise Lost and Paradise Lost 2 for the whole history of the case. I discovered the films about 6 years ago, and when I finished Paradise Lost 2 I immediately got online to make sure that these three wrongly convicted boys had been set free since the films were released. My heart sank when I learned that the boys were now men and were still in prison. I couldn't believe it. I searched for answers as to what had been done and what was being done to correct this injustice. I was glad to hear that after so many years of fighting for justice it looked like things were finally happening. Below, I have written what the DNA and forensics evidence shows. I hope after reading it and looking at the WM3.org website, you will know that the wrong guys are sitting in jail right now, and feel compelled to help. Inspired and determined to see the justice system work, many people have worked on this case pro bono for the past 13 years. However, there are still costs that go along with the process of freeing these three men. There has been a wonderful resurgence of interest by the media for this case, but nobody mentions the need for funds. Donations to the defense fund are desperately needed. DNA and forensics tests are expensive. They are also what will finally set these men free. Due to so many people's passion and generosity, what would normally be a case that costs millions is costing a fraction of that. I know around the holidays we all get inundated with deserving causes and charities that are in need of donations, but this can't wait! With all of the new evidence things are finally moving, and fast! Any money that you can donate is desperately needed to pay for the experts and the federal court hearing that is just weeks away. There is also a letter campaign that has been started by a new and energized group of people in Arkansas. By clicking on this link, you can download the sample letter. Signing and sending this letter makes it very difficult for this case to be ignored. Please mail the letters to the following address:

Arkansas Take Action
Capi Peck, Coordinator
P.O. Box 17788
Little Rock, AR 72222-7788

After so many years it literally comes down to this hearing.

The evidence is so strong that at the very least the judge will grant a new trial, but hopefully he will overturn the verdict and these guys will finally be sent home to their lives and families. I know that this is a hard thing to just take my word on, so please look at the case and the evidence for yourself. I am confident that you will see the DNA evidence is irrefutable and that these three men did not get the kind of trial that is promised to us - as Americans. The system hasn't only failed Damien, Jesse, and Jason, but it has failed the three little boys that were murdered. Their killer(s) is still out there, and just has yet to be served. Please know that your generosity will make a difference.




The following is just some of the DNA and forensic evidence that will be presented in the federal court hearing.

In late October, legal papers were filed in federal court in Arkansas showing that Damien Echols was wrongfully convicted. The 200-page court filing includes DNA evidence that fail to link any of the three boys to the crime scene. This is very important because the prosecution claimed that Echols had sodomized the victims.

-DNA tests also show that a hair belonging to Terry Hobbs, the step-father of one of the victims, was found in the ligature of one of the victims.

- DNA tests also match a hair at the crime scene to a friend of Hobbs that was with him that day.

-DNA test results show foreign DNA-from someone other than Echols, Misskelly, or Baldwin-on the penises of two of the victims.

-Scientific analysis from some of the nation's leading forensics experts, stating that wounds on the victims' bodies were caused by animals at the crime scene-not by knives used by the perpetrators, as the prosecution claimed. These wounds were the centerpiece of the prosecution's case, and evidence was presented that a knife recovered from a lake near one defendant's home caused the wounds.

-Sworn affidavits outlining new evidence uncovered by Pam Hobbs (the ex-wife of Terry Hobbs) who found a knife in Terry Hobbs' drawer that her son (one of the victims) had carried with him at all times. After her son was killed, the knife was not among his personal effects that police gave to the Hobbs family, and Pam Hobbs always assumed that her son's murderer had taken it during the crime.

-New information implicating Terry Hobbs-including his own statements made to police in recent interviews where he acknowledged that several of his relatives suspect him in the crime. The filing also includes a chronology of Hobbs' activities on the night of the crimes, when he washed his clothes and sheets at odd hours for no reason other than to hide evidence from the crimes.

-A sworn affidavit that refutes hearsay evidence from Echols' trial. The mother of one of two girls who testified that they overheard Echols admit to the crime at a softball game now says that Echols' statement was not serious and that neither she nor her daughter believes he committed the crime.