Information Overload

I've been thinking a bit lately about how information I've been ingesting. On Google Reader, between around 20 subscribed blogs, I currently have over 200 unread posts. On Itunes, I have 300 new podcast episodes waiting for me. On Sunday mornings, I listen to a sermon on my Ipod before I arrive to church. I buy books far faster then read them. Is it any wonder that I find it harder and harder to take quiet time with God.

My friend Shane  just posted this video earlier today. It astonishes me to see how fast we're moving and it's exponential. We're moving far faster then we can possibly learn to catch up to. Give it a watch and let  me know what you think.



Lord, free me from the addiction to information and cure of my quest for control,
Stan

Alexandra Burke

I'm not ashamed to say that I've enjoyed watching the X-Factor over the last few months. It's beens an interesting contest with the winner emerging fairly late in the game, compared to the ones who's been getting all the press attention. Well you know what they say about cream: it rises to the top.


These two video are ones that I've found myself watching several time over the last couple of evening.

In the first, the eventual winner, 20 year old, Alexandra, performs a duet with her musical hereo, Beyoncé.
Look at the joy on her face. Look how happy her friend and mentor, Cheryl Cole, is. This video just makes me feel good.



Her second is her performance of the winners' single, Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. This is a classic song and one of my favourites. It conveys the story of David and Bathsheba and how through his adultery and subsequent murder of Bathsheba's husband, he lost his relation to God. It's a song about emotion and despair. I was sceptical that the X-Factor could ever do this song justice but I'm astounded.

Got my first real 6-String...

Using an Argos voucher I won last month (entertainment.ie), I treated myself to  a Yamaha F310 acoustic guitar. I should be clear that I cannot yet play it. I haven't played music since I did keyboard in school and that was shambolic to say the least. But now, I've decided that I'm going to master or at least get my musical ability to an adequate level.
So far, I've got the "G" and "D" down but "C" is proving a bit more difficult.

Found a great series on online beginner guitar lessons. I'm confident I'll be confident in no time.