The Illusion Of Support

I have done a post on this type of thing before. But today I was thinking about this again. I thought it would be a good thing to do a sermon on.

So in this previous post I talked about people "showing" support for the troops by sticking a bumper sticker on their vehicle verses actually supporting them. I thought that why show the illusion of support? Jesus and God don't show the illusion of love that they have for us. So why should we show the illusion of support for a cause?

I could feign my support for something to go with the general consensus of a lot of people. But why would I do that? Just because a good portion of the masses want you to show support for the troops because they fight for your freedom doesn't you have to. Don't get me wrong, but I do respect that people have chosen that career path and decided to go in to some sector of the military, but why should I support a war or a mission that has nothing to do with us in the first place?

Wouldn't feigning or showing illusion of support for something be wrong? I know people do it all the time. But why should I compromise who I am just because it's the "cool" thing to do is show support for something. God and Jesus don't think it's "cool" to show the illusion of love because it's what you want from them. It's the fact that Jesus and God do truly love us. That's why if you are going to put a bumper sticker on your vehicle that you have to actually support the troops, ending breast cancer, ending aids, etc.. Don't just say you support, but actually prove it. Saying you support something is easy to do because it's not like you have to go out of your way to physically do something to show your support.

I've supported stuff in the past and not just said I do. I've actually done a 30 hour famine and collected pledges to help people in developing countries. It's good to actually go out of your way to show your support just like God and Jesus have gone out of their way to show their love for us. They didn't just stick a sticker on something that said "I love all of mankind" or something like that. You could say you love someone, but that doesn't truly mean you do. God and Jesus don't just give lip service like a lot of the people in the world do when They declare their love for us. So why should we just give lip service when we show our support for something?

I just think sticking a bumper sticker on your vehicle is just a lazy and hollow way to show your support for something. After all, Jesus and God are not lazy and hollow with their love for us.

Another Follower

I just got my eighth follower on my blog. It's someone I know. Thanks Johanna! I know I haven't been posting much lately, but I should do that. More content, more posts.

Song of the Day #5 - Dream Theater

Mike Portnoy, a founding member and drummer of Dream Theater, left the band this week.  It is my absolute favourite song by Dream Theater.  The story behind the song is sad.  It is about guitarist John Petrucci's dad.  He had cancer.  Sometimes people interpret lyrics different.  It's interesting how things like that work.

"Take Away My Pain" by Dream Theater
YouTube link

Mike Portnoy Quitting Dream Theater

I was going to do this blog last night, but I didn't.

Mike Portnoy quite Dream Theater and made an official announcement which was posted on Facebook, Roadrunner Records website, MySpace, and wherever else Dream Theater posts official band news. Within this press release, Mike Portnoy has said that he feels he needs to step away from Dream Theater, a band he led and help found. He didn't want to keep doing something with a band, although he loves, that he didn't have the same passion for as he once has. He has felt better doing work with other bands like Avenged Sevenfold. He also said that Dream Theater was burning him out because they went full force with this for 25 years. The band was never ending, evening during their "down" time, as they would keep working a pretty busy schedule.

On one hand, I don't blame him for wanting to take time away from Dream Theater. I mean, they are a hard working band in terms of writing music, recording, touring, etc.. On the other hand, Dream Theater won't be the same without him. But Dream Theater has made the choice to keep going on without Mike Portnoy. If you look at the history of the band's album release history, they are constantly writing and recording albums. They go between a year and three years between releasing albums. The songs they write are damn good. I can see how someone might get burnt out.

Will he return to Dream Theater? Or is this quitting of the band forever? After all, Portnoy did consider quitting the band in 1998, but didn't.

I've been reading some comments on Facebook, MySpace, Roadrunner Records, and Blabber Mouth, and some people are making this seem like it's the end all of everything. They over dramatize things. First instance, someone said that "this is the worst day of his life." I highly doubt that. Another person called Portnoy a sellout. If wanting to step away from something before you go over the edge due to being burnt out is being a sellout, then I guess he is. I understand that Dream Theater won't be the same, but cut the man some slack. He has been going non-stop for 25 years. Let the man pursue other musical ventures and projects. If you are a fan of Mike Portnoy, then you will support his decision to do something other then Dream Theater. Sure it may be a sad day for Dream Theater, but it's the right thing for Portnoy to do.

People need to except his decision and move on no matter if you like it or not.

Ignoring

I have that I've been trying to see she has been doing lately, but she has been ignoring me. She tried to say my sister and I have been rude to her lately. But I told her that I have not been rude to her lately. I told her that ignoring me when I want to see how she is doing is rude. Then she said she didn't want to talk which is the reason why she hasn't been talking to me. I told her that she can at least say hi and tell me how she is doing. I've accepted the fact that talking is reduced because she is in school, but all out not talking to her best friend is just stupid. She can talk to other friends about me, but can't talk to me about me if there is an issue.

She has said said stuff to me, but now the shoe is on other foot and I know she probably won't like it. Well, a part of me says that is just too bad and another part me says now you know how I feel.

I know in she will come around. She always does. So I have to just be patient.

Song of the Day #4 - The Script

Here is the fourth song of the day, but the second one today.

"Break Even (Falling To Pieces)" by The Script
YouTube link

Song of the Day #3 - Bruno Mars

Songs can evoke different emotions and feelings based on a number of things.  When I first heard  this song, it makes me think of someone I had a big thing for.  It wasn't a good summer.  But let's just leave it at that.

"Just The Way You Are" by Bruno Mars
YouTube link