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So I don't have a lot of patience for religious condescending jerks. I have grown up in the church, I have read the Bible, I have sat in many life changing sermons and services, I have had countless experiences with God...but I try to be as real, honest and unreligious as possible. This might sound weird to someone who says "but you go to church or have a faith belief system so you are religious". Ya kinda... I am talking about the rules and regulations that man has developed to dictate how Christians should act. Don't do this, say this, act like this, have your hair like this, tattoo that, pierce that, listen to that, watch that, etc... Sure there is some wisdom in some of those things but I can truly say with my whole heart that I KNOW that God doesn't give to craps about a lot of that stuff especially when it comes to appearance, style, genre of music, art, etc... Man has made things moral/immoral according to their preference and what they like or dislike...that is wrong. I can't stand it. I also can't stand this attitude that makes people act self righteous, condescending, judgemental and end up being hypocritical. I posted a status on my facebook telling how I hit a Starbucks drive thru to grab a coffee on the way to work and ended up sitting at the window for almost 10 minutes and was happy that the girl just apologized but instead also got a $10 gift card as she felt so bad...I was like COOL! One guy responded by telling me "do you know that 2/3 of the world will only have 1 meal a day". Why would you do that? He doesn't know me personally except we went to bible college together for one year. I never hung out with him. He has know idea about anything about me. Yet he feels he needs to do the Holy Spirit's job and convict me? Guess what dude, you don't have the authority in my life to speak into it! I have amazing pastor's and friends that have that place and know me day in and day out and walk along with me doing life. THEY can speak into my life. The other thing that cracks me up about it is unless you have taken a vow to live among the unfortunate and serve them like Mother Theresa or sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, or give all your wealth to the needy and live a very humble lifestyle (which I would bet my left arm he isn't), don't preach and be self righteous with me. Don't try and do the Holy Spirit's job for him...that is not your place. As The Rock would say "Know your role!" These are the kind of people that a lot of people don't want to go to church. So they probably won't get to have an encounter with God and know Him personally. Our role is to love people and each other not judge, ridicule and act like the Pharisees of the Bible. This is why I love my friends, love my church, love my pastor's, love the C3 Church movement we are a part of and love God. He is just but He is patience and loving. So needless to say I hit the old "Remove From Friends" button from my Facebook. I want people to challenge me by what they are doing not by what they are saying. Everyone is welcome to come to my church (C3 Church Edmonton) and we can do life together...cause that is awesome! Anyway, now I'm done! L8R!

Ahhh...turkey and making Ep's

Hey there. So Thanksgiving has come and gone. I am almost starting to freak out that the statement I just made is true. It is already the middle of October. That is scary. Soon it will be Christmas...also scary. The saying "So much to do, so little time" seems to keep rolling around in my head. Yes, I am thankful for so much including having a bunch of turkey leftovers, but I am feeling the pinch to buckle down and get a few things done that need to get done. This will be easier when I am out of my cast in a couple weeks but none the less still need to begin, plan and execute STARTING NOW! So here is what is on the agenda for the next bit. #1. Must organize and begin preparation for the church Christmas season including songs, arrangements, coordinating with the Kids Zone leaders to make sure everything is done and ready to go come Christmas time! #2. Start tracking the F.O.G. (Fire of God) debut Ep and do all the post production (mixing, mastering, etc...) so it can be released in the early next year hopefully! #3. Continue writing and recording demos for the Torment From Within project so it can begin tracking early next summer and have a late summer/early fall release fully mixed, mastered and all that jazz.
That might not sound like that much but it really is a ton of work which I am more then happy to roll up my sleeves and "Git 'er done!" as Larry the Cable Guy would say. Just means between that, work, family time, church life and all the other things that I invest my time in, I have a very busy many months ahead of me. Scares me and excites me all at the same time. But hey! I want to have a life worth living and this is all part of what I believe is my purpose and journey I am on. It is all good! Until the next time...keep your stick on the ice.

Don't Call Me Peg-leg!

Yes, 6 weeks in a cast from my upper thigh to my ankle...it has been utter bliss (I am sure you hear the sarcasm dripping off that rediculous statement). I am over half way through my misery however and all I can say is "Thank-you God!!" And considering the super annoyance of the situation I think I have done pretty well overall dealing with it. I have gone to Banff to a marriage retreat which required me to do a bit of walking to get lunch and dinner. I have had to drive myself in my "Crapmobile" (little 95 Firefly) to work everyday which is quite a site. I will break it down for you as it is pretty entertaining I am sure. I have to enter through the passenger side door, slide backwards across the seats raise myself up to get my left leg around the gearshift into the drivers area. Then position myself, grab my cane and hook the passenger door, pull it almost closed which quickly pulling in the cane and grabbing the door and closing it tight. My leg tends to be right up against the door (tight fit!) and then I proceed to start the car, and drive left footed. The funny thing is I am really good at driving with my left. Almost as good as with my right. I guess that is why they said "Necessity is the mother of invention". You do what you have to do. So in 2-1/2 weeks I will be hobbling around still with my cane being very careful as I am out of my cast. It will be so nice to gingerly bend my knee. To be able to comfortably roll over on my side while sleeping. To sing on a couch or chair without feeling like I am strectching before a gold medal gymnastics competition. I am hoping the the snow won't REALLY fly before I am out of this cast and I can wear pants and good shoes normally again. Trust me, shorts and sandals in -3c weather is not pleasant! Anyway, I have tough old Swede blood in me and I continue to survive and persevere through it all. I can't wait to see where my knee is a year from now after a long rehab process. I hope I am running, dunking a basketball and jumping around on the stage rocking out...wait...I don't hope...I BELIEVE I will be!! I know God will do that. He is awesome and faithful. Anyway, peace out homies or homie if that is all that reads this. Talk to you again soon.

A Metal Life...

So there are a few things I seem to forget about. People don't like what they don't understand for the most part. I am finding that with TFW. I am suprised by some people's reaction but when I think about it harder, I am not really that suprised. Not a lot of people like extreme metal. That is cool...I don't expect them too. It is a small group of people that are into that kind of music. It IS extreme. I love it. I know people that love it. I know a lot of people that cannot stomach it....actually that is most people. But just because you don't like it, doesn't mean you can't support it. Just because you don't really understand it, doesn't mean you have to dismiss those involved in it. That is one of those glaring flaws in human nature that really bugs me. You are different so I want nothing to do with you...I may redicule you, ostracise you, persecute you, label you, discriminate against you, call you names, lie about you, slander you, stereotype you, etc... You see it with race, sex, religion, sexuality, style, lifestyle, fashion...but really we are all just people...flawed, imperfect, hopefully good. So why the fear of what you don't understand or don't like? My name is Vaughn...I love extreme metal...I am a metalhead...do you still like me? Will support me and my band even though you don't like it? Or does that even matter? Vaughnarchy out!!

Torment From Within

So I have a new metal band called Torment From Within. Good metal name. Some people would probably think it was a negative name. I don't. I deal with a lot of torment from within...struggles, selfishness, lust, bad attitudes, jealousy, and I could go on and on. I have friends and family that deal with depression and anxiety. I believe you can have to deal oppression at times. But I also know that you don't have to stay tormented. There is victory over it if you believe it and walk it out. I think of the apostle Paul when he said (and I paraphrase) that he knows what he should do and that is what he wants to do but he found himself doing the things he didn't want to do instead. Sounds like my life! I even put that in the first song we wrote. I am getting a lot of satisfaction and enjoyment from writing and recording this brutal heavy music. It is like therapy for me. Metal rules! I never would have thought I would be laying down some serious black metal style vocals and it would sound pretty good. So anyone who likes the heavy check us out...it rules!

A bit about me...

So I was thinking, how many people REALLY know that much about me...even my friends? Probably not that many. So here are some tidbits of information that you may find interesting or find really trivial and boring....

1. I really love metal music. Crazy extreme heavy as all get out...the screaming, fast, double-kicking "broo-tall" metal that makes most people cry. I love it! I have totally been into metalcore and some black metal too. I find when it comes to metal I only really listen to "Christian" or very positive bands as the lyrical content can leave much to be desired. I love As I Lay Dying" and "Extol" especially. I also love other music so I don't have the "metal-head" label I think...

2. I love tattoos. If I could I would have tons. Probably have my whole arms sleeved (must be the metalhead thing) and others...they do cost a lot so they are very low on my list of things to get. Maybe some day...

3. I am a Sci-Fi nerd...love the Stargate series, Star Wars, Star Trek, and most Sci-Fi

4. I LOVE UFC and watch almost every PPV and catch as much on t.v. as I can...love it..it is like watching chess and combat at the same time. I love the technical aspect of it. Most people can't see that part of it.

5. I really dig guns...I love shooting at the range. My grandfather had an incredible collection and I would like to start my own some day.

6. I hope to be a music producer some day. I am working presently on a couple different projects.

7. I love cheesy t.v. shows...especially older Canadian shows like The Beachcombers, Degrassi Junior High, North of 60, Danger Bay, Neon Rider as well as others like MacGyver, Dragnet, M*A*S*H, etc...

8. When I was very young I thought it would be cool to be a figure skater...that is not cool!

9. Some day I want to live in another country for a bit to see what that would be like....my first preference is the U.K.

10. I like to think I am not very complicated. I like to wear my heart on my sleeve. I like to be frank but am learning to use discretion when it is wise.

There are 10 things about me you may not know. Hope that was interesting for ya. If not you can have your money back. Peace OUT!!

Here I go...

So I have thought about making a blog...seemed like a cool idea. Not sure how many people will read it. Oh well, atleast it is a place where I can bang out my thoughts and speak my mind. If you are reading this, you probably already know me somewhat if not very well. That is great. If you don't that is even more great and I hope some way I get to know you. So this is me breaking the ice. My first post of many I am sure. Thanks for reading and I have thoughts brewing so I will share them soon. Peace OUT!!