Story Behind "A Simple Christmas"

For the past several years, I've wanted to make a Christmas CD. Every January I would think about it and start the process; every December I would have an "oops" moment and realize I didn't work on anything for 11 months.

This year was no different. I got to December and had nothing done. So, I thought it would be fun to just sit down in the studio and record Christmas arrangements as they came into my head. Then, if it turned out well, I would give it away for free on my website for people to enjoy.

Well, the arrangements came out better than I had hoped! So, I put them together onto a webpage and called it "A Simple Christmas." It's free during the month of December for you to enjoy. You'll only hear piano.

If you like the songs, send me an e-mail and let me know. Tell others about the website and the music. Put it on your MP3 players or enjoy it on a custom CD.

Maybe next year I'll actually make a Christmas CD. Until then, I hope you like "A Simple Christmas."

maackonline.com

Merry Christmas!

The Reason Why...

One of the great gospel singer/pianists Gerald Wolfe wrote a blog post that I thought needed to be repeated here. It was written so well I couldn't have said it better. So, here is his post from his Just The Way It Is blog in its entirety below. --Nathan

*** CAUTION: POLITICS INVOLVED ***

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a personal message concerning the upcoming Presidential Election. Since then, that message has made its way around the world... literally, and I have received hundreds and hundreds of emails supporting what it said. I've also received some negative comments... twelve, to be exact.

I've noticed all twelve of the negative emails I received have a similar theme, almost verbatim arguments, justifying their positions on voting for Senator Barack Obama in next month's election. The interesting thing to me is that the emails came from fellow Christians from different areas of the country, so I would assume they don't know each other. It's almost as if they copied their positions from some sort of memo on "why Christians can, and should, vote for Barack Obama." I'm convinced these folks are trying to justify something in their minds that isn't resonating in their hearts. I say that because, if you strip away the "talking points", you get to the real heart of their arguments... money. Without exception, after expressing their opinions on how"the President can't do anything about Abortion", or "nobody likes Abortion", or "what about the needless loss of life in Iraq", the arguments then turn to the economy, and ultimately, their wallets. I am convinced that if Senator Barack Obama wins the Presidential Election next month, it will be because men and women who call themselves "Christian" will vote, based on their view through the lens of self-interest rather than the view through the lens of scripture.

Here then, is THE reason I will not vote for Senator Barack Obama:

1. Barack Obama is the most pro-Abortion (not pro-choice) candidate to ever seek the office of the Presidency. He has said "one of the first things" he will do as President is to "sign the Freedom Of Choice Act" into law. Most people have never heard of it, and have no idea about what it means. I have read it on the US Senate website. It provides for Abortion-on-demand throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy, and negates any current State Laws that prohibit or restrict late-term or partial-birth Abortion. It also provides for Federal funding of Abortion, something currently prohibited by the "Hyde Act". There's a great article written by Princeton University Professor Robert George, concerning Senator Obama's pro-abortion views, and you can read it here.

Of course, as a conservative, I have many, many reasons why I wouldn't vote for Barack Obama besides the "life" issue. Issues like our speedy slide into Socialism, more and more government control over our financial institutions and businesses, tax policy, and so on, but I am compelled by scripture to look out for "the least of these." It's impossible to "care" about people, if you think it's perfectly acceptable to kill them before they're born.

One of Senator Obama's favorite verses of scripture is "if you've done it to the least of these, you've done it to me." He uses that verse to justify his Socialist policy of redistribution of wealth... taking from those who have and giving it to those who don't have as much. The problem is, the scripture speaks of "giving", not "taking". The Biblical view is based on two principles; one is the tithe, which is ten percent of a person's gross income given to the ministry of the local church. The other is "giving", which is above and beyond the tithe that "is the Lord's". Senator Obama, who says he's a Christian, doesn't tithe, let alone give, according to his tax returns. Over the last two years, when he has made a substantial income because of his best-selling books, he has given less than four percent of his income to charities or churches. His running mate, Senator Joe Biden, has given around three percent of his income to charities or churches over the last nine years. Their rhetoric about "caring" doesn't match their record. On the other hand, Senator John McCain has given close to eighteen percent of his income to charities and churches over the last two years, according to his tax returns. Based on the facts, who really cares about "the least of these"?

This year, there is not a Presidential candidate that perfectly matches my core values and beliefs. I am certainly not a "McCainiac", and I find myself in disagreement with him on several issues. However, on the most important issues, his opposition to the Freedom Of Choice Act, and his desire to nominate "constructionist" Justices to the Supreme Court, we are in agreement.

Any person who can over-look the value of the unborn for perceived financial reasons, cannot call themselves a true follower of Christ. There is no valid argument one could give to justify their concern for others, if they would vote for someone who is an adamant supporter of the most pro-abortion legislation every written, period. Call it what you will, a "Christian" who votes for Barack Obama is voting their self-interests, their greed, or their politics, not their convictions.

Ways to Maintain Insanity (08.03.08)

I was sent this list of things to do and wanted to share it with you. Laughing out loud is a good thing!

1. At Lunch Time, Sit in Your Parked Car with Sunglasses on and point a Hair Dryer at Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.

2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice.

3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, Ask If They Want Fries with that.

4. Put Your Garbage Can On Your Desk And Label It 'In.'

5. Put Decaf in The Coffee Maker for 3 Weeks Once Everyone has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso.

6. In the Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write 'For Smuggling Diamonds'

7. Finish All Your sentences with 'In Accordance With the Prophecy.'

8 dont use any punctuation

9. As Often As Possible, Skip Rather Than Walk.

10. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.

11. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is 'To Go.'

12. Sing Along At The Opera.

13. Go To A Poetry Recital And Ask Why The Poems Don't Rhyme?

14. Put Mosquito Netting around Your Work Area and Play tropical Sounds All Day.

15. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their Party Because You're not in the Mood.

16. Have Your Co-workers Address You by Your Wrestling Name, Rock Bottom.

17. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream 'I Won! I Won!'

18. When Leaving the Zoo, Start Running towards the Parking lot, yelling 'Run for Your Lives, They're Loose!!'

19. Tell Your Children Over Dinner. 'Due To The Economy, We Are Going To Have To Let One Of You Go.'

Tony Snow Dies (07.12.08)

One of my favorite Conservative commentators and White House press secretaries Tony Snow passed away today after a battle with colon cancer. He was a great Conservative voice and a great man by all accounts.

Here's the statement released by President and Laura Bush:

Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of our dear friend, Tony Snow. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Jill, and their children, Kendall, Robbie, and Kristi. The Snow family has lost a beloved husband and father. And America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character.

Tony was one of our Nation's finest writers and commentators. He earned a loyal following with incisive radio and television broadcasts. He was a gifted speechwriter who served in my father's Administration. And I was thrilled when he agreed to return to the White House to serve as my Press Secretary. It was a joy to watch Tony at the podium each day. He brought wit, grace, and a great love of country to his work. His colleagues will cherish memories of his energetic personality and relentless good humor.

All of us here at the White House will miss Tony, as will the millions of Americans he inspired with his brave struggle against cancer. One of the things that sustained Tony Snow was his faith - and Laura and I join people across our country in praying that this good man has now found comfort in the arms of his Creator.

Click here for more on the story.

Do Aliens Exist? (07.08.08)

Some co-workers and I were discussing the existence of UFO’s and aliens today. I know, strange topic at work but there was a reason behind it.

Anyways, one co-worker said that she could believe in UFO’s and aliens. Her reasoning is that in such a huge amount of space with galaxies and planets existing far beyond what we can see, why would God just create on one planet which takes up a very small amount of His creation.

I disagree. I believe that there are no aliens on other planets and that UFO’s are just unidentified until we identify them as something man-made or rock from space. Here’s my reasoning: The Bible begins with the words, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” He very clearly has the “earth” singled out meaning that there is significance to it. Genesis then goes into great detail about how much effort God put into designing this planet, the animals, and us humans. No other planet or alien species is mentioned anywhere in the Bible (God’s inspired Word).

Then we get to the New Testament. In comes Jesus. The Bible points out in simple terms (John 3:16) that Jesus is God’s ONLY Son. Now, if Jesus died for our sins once and for all here on earth and He’s God’s only Son, what is the salvation plan for the other alien planets? Did He go and die on their planet too? Are they a perfect species that don’t need to be saved? Do they automatically go to heaven? Do they just cease to exist when they die?

There are too many unanswered questions that don’t reason with what God wrote for us. I think that God designed the heavens as a way for us to see how vast, all-powerful, and creative He is. Just look at His creation at night. Then use a telescope. It’s amazing work!

So, there you have it. My co-workers reasoning and my reasoning (in a little more detail). I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject. Send a comment and I’ll put it on the blog posting.

Beam me up, ah, I mean – until next time!

Happy Independence Day!

Here are some quotes from America past that show this country is a Christian nation.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. And the people whom He has chosen as His own inheritance.”
—Psalm 33:12, NKJ

“For the advancement of the Christian faith in the name of King James the ‘Defender of the Faith.’”
—Mayflower Compact, 1620

“And for the support of this Declaration,with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our Sacred Honor.”
—United States of America Declaration of Independence

“It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly implore His protection and favor.”
—President George Washington, 1789

“Finally, let us not forget the religious character of our origin. Our fathers were brought hither by their veneration for the Christian religion. They journeyed by its light, and labored in its hope. They sought to incorporate its principles with the elements of their society, and to diffuse its influence through all their institutions civil, political, or literary.”
—Daniel Webster, 1851

“The people of these United States, from their earliest history to the present time, have been led by the hand of a Kind Providence, and are indebted for the countless blessings of the past and present, and dependent for continued prosperity in the future upon Almighty God....The great vital and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and driving truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
—The United State House of Representatives, 1854

“Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of The Redeemer (Jesus Christ) of mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise, and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian... This is a religious people. This is historically true. From the discovery of this continent to the present hour, there is a single voice making this affirmation...We find everywhere a clear recognition of the same truth...These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass or organic utterances that this is a Christian nation.”
—United States of America Supreme Court, 1892

“A nation which does not remember what it was yesterday, does not know what it is today nor what it is trying to do. We are trying to do a futile thing if we do not know where we came from or what we have been about.”
—President Woodrow Wilson

“The good (in the USA) would never have come into being without the blessings and power of Jesus Christ... I know how embarrassing this matter is to politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen and cynics: but whatever these honored men think, the irrefutable truth is that the soul of America is at its best and highest, Christian.”
—Dr. Charles Habib Malic, Ambassador to the U.N. from Lebanon, 1955

“When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.”
—Prov. 28:2, NLT

The Monsoon 2008

Tonight we had our first "storm" of the monsoon season! We had the lightning (lots of lightning), thunder, wind, and a little rain. It wasn't what you would call a big storm but it was a start to what will hopefully be a good monsoon season this year.

The last few years have been more like a nonsoon than a monsoon. More storms expected tomorrow night. There's usually a good one on the 4th of July here in Phoenix.

Have a great day!


Nathan

The Buzz

As we got closer to the tree, the sound got louder. We looked around not knowing what to expect. When we looked up, we spotted a beehive about a foot and a half tall! The buzzing was then unmistakable.

Hundreds, if not thousands of bees swarming the hive; taking turns landing on it and flying off it.

Tuesday, we had a beekeeper come to do something with the hive. I wasn’t home at the time but I was told he was in his official beekeeper outfit and sprayed the beehive and all the bees down out of the tree!

Anyways, the bees were Africanized so it was a good thing we got a trained beekeeper out instead of dealing with the hive ourselves.

And that’s the bee story.

Start The Violin Music

I read through several news stories everyday online. I try to look for interesting and weird stories. This one was pretty sad and as you read it, listen for that violin music in the distance.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Associated Press

LONDON - David Garrett, a former model who has been called the David Beckham of the classical scene, said he tripped while carrying his 18th century violin as he was leaving London's Barbican Hall after a performance, smashing it to bits.

"I had it over my shoulder in its case and I fell down a concrete flight of stairs backward," Garrett said Thursday. "When I opened the case, much of my G.B. Guadagnini had been crushed."

Garrett said he bought the 1772 violin for US$1 million in 2003, and he is now hoping to get it repaired in New York, where he is based.

"I hope and pray that it can be fixed, but if it can't, I hope my insurance policy will let me buy another great violin," the 26-year-old musician said. He told The Associated Press that other published accounts saying the violin was a Stradivarius were incorrect. Guadagnini is believed by some to have been a student of Antonio Stradivari.

The accident occurred Dec. 27 but only became known this week when he returned to London for another concert at the Barbican and told British reporters what had happened.

For his Valentine's Day concert there, he is playing a Stradivarius that's been lent to him.

Garrett gained attention as a child prodigy. Before he was 10, he played as a soloist with the London Philharmonic, according to his Web site. When he studied at the Juilliard School in New York, he became a part-time model to help supplement his income.