My favorite band of all time is the Christian rock band DC Talk. DC Talk consists of Toby McKeen (Toby Mac), Kevin (Max) Smith, and Michael Tate. There are two suggestions as to where theter name came from. There song, "Wehn DC Talks" suggests that the DC means Decent Christian. Others say it i because they grew up in Washington, DC.
As a child, I had never heard of Christian rock. In church we sang the old hymns and, every once in a while, a Gaither chorus. My first exposure to Christian rock was when older Christians were opposed to it.A Pentecostal friend told me to give them a chance and lent me a DC Talk tape. I loved it. My mother was not so sure. At first she did not want me to listen to it but came around eventually.
DC Talk's first big album in the Christian world was "Free at Last." It was mostly rap with a little bit of rock. It included their classic song "Say the Words" and covers of "Lean on Me" and "Jesus is still All Right." Their biggest and most influential album was "Jesus Freak." Many of the songs on this album got airplay on secular radio stations and videos were on MTV. This album was mostly rock with rap. It was one of the biggest albums in contemporary CHristian music history. It was a beginning of more alternative music in CCM. It helped end the era of Amy Grant and Ray Boltz. Not long after, we would see Audio Adrenaline, Third Day, Cutlass, and other alternative bands enter the Christian world.
Even though DC Talk is edgier than previous Christian groups, it still has a great message. In the song "Jesus Freak," it talks about wearing the insult "Jesus Freak" as a badge of honor. The song "In the Light" talks about daily walking in God's light. While there are some songs that are questionable, most are very Christ-honoring.
The next album was "Supernatural." it got away from the rap and was just rock. It was almost soft rock. Toby Mac did not like it. The group released a greatest hits album called "Intermission" then took a break. Toby Mac went solo and has gone back to his rap/rock origins. He has been the most successful. Michael Tate got a band called Tate. Tate has had some success. Kevin Max attempted a solo career which really did not go anywhere. He is now touring with Newsboys as a replacement.
No none has surpassed DC Talk for me. I still love listening to their music. It has been ten years since they went on their "intermission." I am ready for them to reunite. With Toby Mac's success and Kevin Max now with the Newsboys, it seems unlikely. I can still hope.
I just LOVE how you and Emily were blogging as your little boy laid there was dying.
ReplyDelete"I don't really care if they label me a Jesus Freak! There ain't no disguising the truth!" I agree- DC Talk is freaking awesome! They are definitely my favorite Christian band, and Jesus Freak is by far my favorite album. It's what I grew up on, and I could never get sick of it!
ReplyDeletegot a point -where were you when he was ill in bed?
ReplyDeleteI really love how Emily was taking picture and playing around with her blog as Daniel layed there in bed slowly dying because they have TOO MUCH PRIDE to want to use their insurance. Be a good husband Dan and go have your wife either get WIC or Foodstamps so this doesn't happen you any of your children again!!! You work hard you shouldn't have to worry if your son is getting enough nutrition or fluids.
ReplyDeleteHell you might even have a little extra to try that new Mountain Dew Throwback....it has REAL sugar so Emily might not freak out. Seriously be the man of your house and stop letting Emily pull the puppet strings in your house putting your boys at risk and not having the best nutrition that is availble to them
It's really easy to live on less than $1,000 a month when taxpayers are paying for your medical care. But that said, the issue isn't about going on food stamps or WIC. The issue is Emily's absurd unbalanced diet. This family can afford to eat a balanced diet, Emily chooses not to. Emily would rather fill her kids full of meat and cheese.
ReplyDeleteAs for Dan, he really needs to take control of his wife and family. He needs to stop Emily from killing the kids with this diet. But he won't because he's a weak man and weak husband. It's why Emily married him. Dan is dumb and easy to control, which Emily knows. Oh sure she pays lip service to being the submissive wife and he puts his foot down on irrelevant things like Christmas trees. But when it comes to the day to day running of the house and raising of the children, Emily to Dan is 'she who must be obeyed.' Emily wouldn't have married Dan otherwise.
Why didn't Emily watch Daniel close enough I thought your your kids had those boundries she talks about all the time. PLEASE get comtrol of your wife and kids!! Time to man up Dan!! Stop letting Emily sit online all day and feeding poor quality food.
ReplyDeletePub.... I respectfully disagree that its easy to live on 1k a month even if your health insurance is paid by taxpayers. WAL-MART should be paying a portion of their health care but that is a story for another blog. At any rate, their rent is close to 500 a month, plus I'm sure they pay some portion of utilities. That leaves them 500 a month for groceries, gas, car insurance, car up keep, Dan's college books/expenses, and since they have three chilrens there is always going to be incidentals, or additonal expenses that are not planned on. We both know that. The issues should be about food stamps and WIC program if not for Dan and Emily, for the children. It's not like Dan is a deadbeat, he works full time and goes to college. Sure, he might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but the guy's not lazy. Nor is Emily. So give him some credit.
ReplyDeleteAs for Dan taking contol of Emily...well, thats absurd. We both know nobody has the power to change anybody unless they want to change and they welcome change. Now, having said that, I do believe that Emily probably does wear the pants in that family and I think she probably manipulates Dan and he probably doesn't even see it coming. She's not stupid; I'm sure her manipulations are subtle and genteel. And if I was a betting woman I'd guess that she is able to lead Dan around by his penis -- if you catch my drift.
As for the diet. I'm confused. Sure, she saves almost nothing by cooking with the Crockpot, but with wet clothing and diapers hanging from the rafters, turning on the oven in that tiny space would most likely turn that apartment into a humid,wet mess. The clothing and diapers would take a long time to dry. During the summer months turning that oven on would turn that apartment into a hot box very quickly. So I'm sure Emily had to come up with some other way of cooking -VIOLA--the crock pot idea. She has to know that the crock pot saves her NO MONEY or very little money but that is the excuses she uses anyway. BUT about the diet itself, I dont' really have an issue with what they eat, it's how its all cooked that I take issue with. She has cut sugar from their diet and that is a good thing, they eat meat, granted poor cuts and fatty beef items, but still, they eat chicken too. Oatmeal for breakfast. No, I don't like to hear that the kids are snacking on ketchup but whatever, kids are kids and soon enough they'll know that there are better snacks than ketchup. That is just laziness on Emilys part. Saving uneaten apples and apple cores for apple sauce -- its not going to kill anybody. So please, somebody explain about the diet -- maybe I'm not paying close enough attention, I don't read every blog she writes about food.
Lets not blame Emily and Dan for little Dans illness. IT's not fair. IF something fishy is going on, the hospital is mandated to take action.
I come from the school of thought that if you're going to get married you should have your education completed and you should have a real job. I have little sympathy and almost no respect for men who get married, sire children and spend their days in some forsaken classroom wasting time and money. The time to go to college has come and passed for Dan.
ReplyDeleteMy issue with the diet is that it isn't balanced. One day they eat bananas all day until dinner, another day they eat oatmeal all day, t he next maybe they eat apples all day. Their diet is meat heavy and vegetable light.
Emily most certainly wears the pants in the family. What she says goes and I suspect you're right about her manipulating Dan. That said, these people claim to believe in the husband as head of household and the wife as a submissive help meet as scripture defines. That doesn't seem to be the case in this family at all, which is why I suggest that Dan take control. In other words, Dan needs to reclaim his position as head of household. Believe it or not Dan, the position is more than that of a figurehead.
PUB....In a perfect world going to college before getting married OR at least before having children, might be the best idea. But judging from what I've read, it doesn't appear that Dan was even raised with the idea that college could be an option. So just the fact that he is going to "college" to try and better himself is a good thing. Do I think he has found his natural calling? Absolutely not. But like I said, I don't think Dan is lazy, I think he is just misdirected. The college he's attending is not an accredited college but still, it takes effort, time and money to do what he is doing. Personally I think Dan would be an exceptional candidate for a technical education. We all know that his idea of leading a congregation isn't gonna happen and if by some slim chance it does, it will be in some tiny community where no one else would consider moving. He'll be a big fish in a small pond and Emily will be happy as a pig in shit. I hope it doesn't happen.
ReplyDeleteWhen my kids were little I couldn't get them to eat anything; both of them were very picky eaters. I think my one child lived on hot dogs and mac and chs for a year almost. Sure, I could have battled everyday or bribed him to eat better but I knew he wouldn't die from this poor diet either. I knew he'd grow out of it and he did. I think my other kid lived pretty much on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches but at least I was able to put it on whole wheat bread -- they're both big strapping men today. Both of them have been vegetarians at one point or another but only one of them has continued on with eating a meatless and more healthy diet. My point is this: Emily and Dan's children are gonna be OK. In a perfect would all children would eat a balanced diet, but most of the time it just doesn't happen. And I really don't give a crap what Emily and Dan eat -- they're not totally brain dead and Emily in her own silly way does seem to make things healthy for them.
Look, I don't know squat about scripture, I'm not a member of any organized religion but I do believe in a power greater than myself. I was raised Catholic and attended private, catholic school my whole entire life. Yet, when it comes to scripture, I know almost nothing. I'm a good person and I try and lead a good, simple, clean life, that is good enough for me. I don't know much about this submissive wife stuff other than it makes absolutely no sense to me. A marriage should be an equal partnership -- end of story. I can't see it being any other way. Or anyway for ME it wouldn't be any other way. No question in my mind that Emily wears the pants in that family. You're right, she lets Dan control matters that really don't mean too much, like the Christmas tree, but when it comes to money, kids, and anything really important she's running the show. Dan can't lead Emily because he doesn't know how,its a concept that is foreign to him -- if he has to ask a professor if its OK that his wife types(write) his school papers, a leader he is not. Just the fact that he allows Emily to make homemade soda, cook all their food in a freakin crock pot and wash their clothing in the shower all under the guise of saving money -- either he doesn't get it or he doesn't care. I think Dans cares, I just don't think he gets it. Emily on the other hand, knows exactly what she is doing. She knows better.
Dan I am being really serious here. I know Emily 'preches' that Dental insurance is a luxury and you take care of your teeth but honestly you need to get to a Dentist and you would be able to get it completely paid for through state insurance. Bad teeth can lead to tons of other health problems and also if you have issues with your teeth that means your boys have a very high chance of having the same issues(weak enamel ect.) Your teeth have so much damage to them that they look like you had a drug/meth problem and that is NOT the appreance you want when you are trying to find a pastor position. Don't let Emily stop you from getting this done. You deserve to be pain free and you boys shouldn't have to go through what you did.
ReplyDeleteAlso you have lost A LOT of weight. You looked like you were a healthly weight and then you dropped a lot of weight, and that is not normal. Please increase your servings and look at getting some help via foodstamps or WIC you will eventually be able to pay your community back.
they all look so pale and thin, eyes look dead.No smiles or happiness.
ReplyDeleteThe kitchen worktops look really grubby in the grout areas and I doubt they know about the dangers of cross contamination - all that meat.
I wonder if it's faecal cotamination from laundry or handling so much raw meat and not claning thoroughly? (I have a masters in public health).
@dona - They don't pay for Dan's schooling out of that $1000 a month. They pay for that with their tax refund. Well, technically it's not a refund as they don't have any taxes withheld throughout the year, but they get a big check back every year nonetheless. Dan may have a job, but there sure is a lot more he could do to support his family. I don't think they should take foodstamps or WIC, their family has the ability to make more money unlike some people. Reserve those resources for those that truly can't help themselves or are in a short-term pinch due to some unforeseen incident. They are doing this for the long-term, they have no goals of making themselves self-sufficient and able to live without government assistance. They plan to always have an income so low that they don't have to pay taxes so they can get the child tax credit and have big refunds every year. Our monthly expenses (expenses, not income - which is actually what Emily goes by anyways, their income is larger than $1000 a month - she just does everything she can to keep the monthly bills under $1000) are $1600 a month, including student loans and a $1000 a month mortgage. If I could have found a place that offered $600 rent, including heat, I'm sure we could live off of $1000 a month. I'm not that impressed by the numbers she offers.
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