Playing Cyrano

For the last few evenings, I have had fun playing a mysterious poet of dark repute on a poetry blog. It's driving the hostess batty not knowing whence came this umbrageous bard. And yet, she is awaiting my return.

The Phantom of the What?

If you don't know what Bluegrass music is, give it a listen:

Expired: Woody Midigrass Band (Bluegrass Music) - Phantom of the Opry

Veterans' Day, 2005

11 November, 2005


Our flag is stained with the blood of the brave.
I, on this privileged perch of the present,
shout with a grateful heart:

"You have made our tomorrows free.
Our land is and will always be."

Semper Fidelis!

Today, 10 November, 2005, is the US Marine Corp's 230th birthday.

Back to the Old Blog Template

I decided the new blog template was too high maintenance. I already have several websites online. I really don't need to mess with another one . For the record, I've been there and done that. Now I am back to using the old blog template.

Carol, if you are reading this, I don't need another pretty face to divert my attention.

My New Blog Template

After reading Carol's post this evening on her wanting to a new blog template, my interest is aroused. So I hacked my own template.

This template looks way too busy with the distracting Yosemite NP background. It is too early to tell if I want to keep it, or revert back to the old one.

Don't Call Me Kim Mesabi

The name is Wasabi. Tim Wasabi.

My grocer has restocked Tim's Cascade Style Wasabi Potato Chips. For a long while, he said these potato chips were just a temporary snack. Now they are back! I hope they will stay for good this time.

Seldom Scene

The 'Seldom Scene' is one of my favorite bluegrass music artists. When I learned of their music, they have faded from the scene, as it were.

This post is on another seldom scene. Following this morning's worship service, I mentioned to our senior pastor about his reading of Revelation 5:12-13 from a modern English bible. The version he used has a questionable translation of these verses. (I forgot which version he used. It could have been the NIV. It's his customary practice to use several versions of translations to impart the message of the day.)

The question centered around the word "saying". The original Greek word for "saying" was lego. It was used in verses 12 and 13. It would be a stretch to translate this Greek word as "singing". At least, this was my opinion when I broached the subject to Pastor Steve.

The New American Standard Bible (NASB) is known for its closest literal translation of the original New Testament Greek. It rendered Rev. 5:12-13 correctly as follows (bold emphasis mine):

12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."

13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."

Whereas, in the New International Version (NIV), the same word, "saying", was translated incorrectly as "sang" and "singing", respectively, in verses 12 and 13. Its translation reads:

12 In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"

We see the real Greek word "singing" in Rev. 5:9. The Greek word for singing in this verse was ado. It's derived from aeido. Both of these Greek words denoted sing, sang, or singing. The NASB and NIV had translated this verse correctly, however.

In secular music or even in hymnodies, ascribing angels the ability to sing is acceptable for a number of reasons. But scripturally to state that angels can sing creates two problems. First, it brings into question when is singing, singing, or saying, saying, in the Bible. Moreover, by distorting the original meaning of the word "singing", we are diluting if not refuting the significance in one of God's unique and solely gifts to His highest creation. Man.

Pastor Steve concurred with my concern. He said he will redeem himself in the second service.

In My Dreams

Thomas Kinkade - Autumn-3

The cavalcade of deciduous woods lined our lanes has morphed into its fall costumes for the season's finale. Plush leaves in arrays of crimson, amber, scarlet, and yellow, are flaunting their dazzling and ephemeral splendor in the autumn wind.

I like to capture some of that Thomas Kinkade fall color moments at home. If he could, why not I? Every fall past, the neighbor's poplar chortled and shook its denuded wispy branches at me, "In your dreams, dude! It ain't going to happen."

So it is to be. No Kinkade autumn scene in the front yard this year. Another season of my resigning to Verlain's de l'automne blessent mon coeur d'une langueur monotone.

Untitled (for C.Y.)

I was so glad we met again.

We all have regrets and hurts. Perhaps no balm can assuage your deepest hurts and foibles. Still, treasure the vibrant life with which you've been blessed. Beyond, live life more than withered petals locked within your heart.

Though crushed, the lavender florets emit a healing and soothing aroma. Will you? I know you will and can.

The past is ashes. Let not the coming days inviolate the waking eye.

Be well, my friend.