True Story #1 - The Raw Bream

This is the first in a series of true stories from my life told when I remember them, as I remember them, with the purpose of providing some kind of comic relief, thought provoking drama, nail biting suspense and/or, God willing, spiritual insight. Enjoy.


The Raw Bream
by Seth Hall

When I was in middle school, I would sometimes hang out with the older kids from the neighborhood, you know play basketball, skateboard, fish or whatever. Well, on one hot summer day, during my 6th grade year (1986-87), I happened to be hanging with three of them. One was a year older, the other about two and "the leader" was three or four years older. We were down at Shelley Lake in North Raleigh fishing, when one of them decided to joke about me eating a fish from the lake. I quickly replied "yeah right, I'm not eating a fish from this disease ridden lake" or something of that nature. (I had probably never heard the term disease ridden before in my life, but we'll say I had for the story's sake :) Well, when I said that, it got the other two into it and they decided that I was going to eat a fish from that lake, and a raw fish at that!!! Someone had just caught a brim, (probably me since eating a raw fish you'd just caught would be the most humiliating thing ever!), when they dragged me to the woods and proceeded to surround me, forcefully saying, "Eat it, eat it", "Heck no" I said. "Eat it, eat it", "No way man, I am not eating that" I replied, so on and so forth for the longest 30 minutes of my life. The more I said no, the more they insisted (you know, classic neighborhood bully behaviour) until one genius said, "How about if we cook it". I was so relieved to be moving on to the next level, that I said "OK", thinking that would never happen since none of us had any fire and we were a long walk from home. That did not matter. One of them quickly got up and run all the way around the lake to his house, returning 30 minutes later with his Rambo knife, (the popular 80's novelty knife with a compass on the handle that would unscrew to reveal a "survival kit" which contained a string saw, a knife sharpener, needle and thread, some fish hooks and you guessed it matches). Upon sight my stomach turned to knots and I started to get worried..... In my head I thought, "this might actually happen, please God don't let this happen. I always throw your fish back, you know, to keep the population going. Please God don't let this happen". I don't know if I actually thought in terms of God during the 6th grade, but I was definitely freaking out and asking for some kind of miracle. Anyway, as the "survivalist" unscrewed the compass and took out the "survival kit", I saw a pack of about 10 matches. One by one they proceeded to strike those matches in hopes of starting a fire, but by the grace of God they all broke, everyone of them. No lie. It was a long drawn out process, but none of those matches did their job of producing fire for man. Following this, the three of them decided to give up on the whole idea of killing me through the consumption of raw or undercooked disease ridden fish and we embarked on our journey home.

On the way home I remember feeling relief coupled with anger and betrayal. How could these jerks live with themselves? What did I do to them to deserve this? I would never know. Although we were never really close friends, I continued to see those guys around the neighborhood and we had some good times doing what neighborhood kids do. Last I heard the first guy was an engineer with a wife and a whole mess a kids, the other was working in computers and the third, the "leader", was an ordained preacher. I can only imagine that service. A lesson in humility, an ungodly scheme failed. Looks like God has a plan after all and it happens to involve me not dieing that day in the woods. OK, a little over dramatic I know. It involves me not getting really sick in the woods. Is that better?

Side note: I've been meaning to write the company that produced those knifes and thank them for making such a terrible product and ripping my "friends" off.

Lesson learned: Pick better friends

Chant Down Babylon

New Favorite Song
http://www.myspace.com/johndavis

Chant Down Babylon
by John Davis

I can feel it in my knees
The weather's gonna change on me
but I will not be disarranged
by someone with nothing to sigh

I'll set a fire behind this place
I'm back here crawling after grace
I and I fight back with an act of love
to overcome evil with good
I will stake my life on the power of love
to overcome evil with good

The easiest thing in the world
Is to feel like your alone
We're not made for being alone
The love in your heart is a pearl
you gotta keep it from turning to stone

I'll kick over this facade
I consecrate myself to God
But I will not be rearranged
by someone with nothing to sigh

I can feel it in my boots
the enemy takes aim it shoots
I and I still chant down on Babylon
Chant down Babylon
I and I will chant down on Babylon
Chant down Babylon

The easiest thing in the world
Is to feel like your alone
We're not made for being alone
The love in your heart is a pearl
you gotta keep it from turning to stone

5 new records

Wilco - Sky Blue Sky (2007) Americana

Feist - The Reminder (2007) Female Crooner Pop

Mississippi John Hurt - Rediscovered (1966) Blues

Fairport Convention - Liege and Leaf (1969) English Folk Rock

Steeleye Span - Hark! The Village Wait (1970) English Folk Rock

Quote of a lifetime

My friend Bliss introduced this quote to me. I suggest we all follow suit.

"What if we were content (satisfied and fulfilled) with God's perfect love and were free to give love, rather than constantly maneuvering to get it? Or what if we were content with our identity in God and were free to serve the world, rather than trying to prove we have a right to exist in it."

Life or Art?..... or both?

It's funny how life can repeatedly imitate art and vice versa.
God continues to teach me and remind me of who I am, through who I was.

Technicolor Dream (The Modfathers)
written by me when I was 24 years old
This has been a common theme in my life

A cup of tea with indecision
They both go hand in hand
The only way to get around it
is to sing with the band

An ounce of hope and conversation
For those who just don't understand
The only way to get around it
Is to sing with the band

Took a wrong direction
Didn't get too far
Felt a strong connection

Girl if you had the slightest clue
You'd wish you were here with me
If I could fall asleep with you
I'd sleep 'til eternity
I cherish the thought that still remains
Our images coincide

I never wanted to contain the way that I feel inside
I never wanted to contain the way that I feel inside
I never wanted to contain the way that I feel inside
I never wanted to contain the way that I feel inside
I never wanted to contain the way that I feel inside

Life & Art

As human beings we all experience the same emotions.
Pain and hearthache are no exception.
I am comforted knowing that salvation is real and everything is redeemable through God.

This song resonates with my life right now.

A Gift for Melody Anne
by the Avett Brothers

I want to get back
I want to get square
I want to get back all the hopes
and dreams that I have
that the good Lord above us can spare

Like that actor said
I don’t wanna lose heart
I don’t wanna get beat beat down
By the big big world
Or quit before I even start

Lord, I just want me life to be true
Yeah, and I just want me heart to be true
Yeah, and I just want my words to be true
I want my soul to feel brand new

I wanna hold hands
Yeah, and I wanna make love
And I wanna keep running all day
And all night even when my mind tells my body that’s enough

And I wanna stand up
Yeah, and I wanna stand tall
If I ever have a son, if I ever have a daughter
I don’t wanna tell ‘em that I didn’t give my all

And, I just want me life to be true
Yeah, and I just want me heart to be true
Yeah, and I just want my words to be true
I want my soul to feel brand brand new
Like a fresh coat of paint
We can make it anything but blue
Anything but blue

Now when your dreams start saying, I can’t come true
You’d be better off without me
Don’t let ‘em go
Don’t let ‘em go

I don’t wanna go broke
Not from one bad deal
I don’t wanna be up all night
Crying in my hands
For a girl that isn’t even real

Lord, I just want me life to be true
Yeah, and I just want me heart to be true
And, I just want my words to be true
Yeah, and I just want my song to be true
Yeah, and I just want my heart to be true
Yeah, and I just want my life to be true
Yeah, and I just want my words to be true
And, I just want my heart to be true
Yeah, and I just want my life to be true
And, I just want my song to be true
And, I just want my life to be true

I want my soul to feel brand new
I want my soul to feel brand new

The last 5 movies I've watched :)

Mystery Train - Jim Jarmusch

• Great movie set in Memphis by one of the best independent filmmakers of the last 25 years

The Fog - John Carpenter

• Classic 80's horror/ghost story, not very scary but fun to watch. John Carpenter composed the music to most of his movies, very cool synth stuff.

The Devil and Daniel Johnston - Jeff Feuerzeig

• Daniel Johnston is a manic-depressive genius singer/songwrite/artist who almost slipped away. This movie is the stunning portriat of his life.

For a Few Dollars More - Sergio Leone

• Clint Eastwood as the "Man with No Name" in the second installment of the Spaghetti Western Trilogy. Ennio Morriconne composed the music. Amazing movie!!

Blades of Glory - Josh Gordon and Will Speck

• Will Ferrell as one half of a male figure skating team. Best comedy of the year!!! Need I say more.
  

Reunited and it feels so good

If The Police reunite, I am there!!!! Unless it is too far away, then I will just watch the concert on youtube.

First Blog Ever

The title says it all, well except for...Howdy. I hope this blog reaches everyone out there in Internet town in good spirits. I have jumped on the bandwagon, or the blogwagon, and embarked on a mission like no other. A mission to redeem the world through love, laughter and truth.

I am currently reading the book of Acts. It is my favorite book of the bible so far. Jesus is risen and He sends the Apostles out into the world to build the Christian church. It shows us the power and love of God and what the church is supposed to be, the redeemer of the world. A place for us to live in community and love each other in the name of Jesus Christ. Pretty simple if you think about it, though history has proven that it can be warped and manipulated into something else entirely. Not all churches are off base though. But the question is, how many churches today are like that of the first church in Acts? I've never counted, so I can't answer that exactly, but based on the worlds perception of the church, I would guess less than more. I suggest we throw out all the rules and regulations that stifle the soul and get down to the basics. Jesus's words. Truth. Let's face it, a lot of churches are boring. They are anything but engaging and encouraging. The perception is that one day out of the week you have to put on a three piece get up, a tie from Abercrombie that you got for your birthday, and a nice pair of loafers to go and listen to someone you barely know telling you how to live your life, all so you can feel better about yourself. Who really wants that? I never did. How about we live, love and interact in a community, seek the truth and the challenge (aka God's word) any/every day of the week, all the while wearing jeans and flip flops. Who says worshiping God and following Christ has to be stale and boring?

All of this reminds me of a Johnny Paycheck song called "The Outlaw's Prayer". It is basically about a man getting kicked out of a church full of hypocrites for not looking "the part", in which Mr. Paycheck responds, didn't John the Baptist have a beard, camel hair coat and sandals, and didn't Jesus have long hair, beard and sandals on his feet.

It is a genius song, check it out..... http://www.rhapsody.com/johnnypaycheck/16biggesthits

For the past year and a half I have been involved in a local church in Raleigh, NC called Vintage 21. get to know the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is a throw back to the book of Acts and the Gospel of Jesus. Encouraging, engaging, and creative conversation directed towards the world, with the intent to find out who God really is. Our purpose on this earth is the live a life in a relationship with the Creator and through the words of Jesus, Vintage 21 is laboring to do this. I am humbled to be a part of it.

Books that helped me see real Christianity

Velvet Elvis - by Rob Bell
Searching For God Knows What - by Donald Miller
Blue Like Jazz - by Donald Miller
My Utmost for His Highest - by Oswald Chambers http://www.rbc.org/utmost/index.php

Until next time.....