Disqus - Latest Comments for Piano Man Kugie

Re: Dear Republican National Committee – I Will Answer Your Survey When You Answer Mine

Piano Man Kugie — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:23:41 -0000

I like your questions.
And until people disapprove of their own representatives more than they disapprove of Congress, nothing will change, because the incumbents will be re-elected by their own district or state. Why is it that folks don't seem to understand that if one is against out of control spending but likes the spending going on in their own district or state, that nothing will change?

Re: I Am Glad She's Happy

Piano Man Kugie — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:30:12 -0000

Will trust that God knows best in this situation and that "in the long run" life will be better when you look back on it. Grateful that He lets grief come in small waves but not all at once to overpower any of us.

Re: Anew

Piano Man Kugie — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:13:21 -0000

I think it's great that you have the freedom to have the abstract and the random and that you are not locked/compressed/forced/frozen etc. into the concrete and the sequential. Besides which God is the author (source) of all of it. It's your blog, so by all means you have the freedom to experiment with changing it! He doesn't change, but everything else is unhealthy if it doesn't change, IMHO. So I consider your blog's format/structure/appearance changes to be healthy. FWIW (for what it's worth). And your art/drawings may have random elements in them, but they also have 'flow' and 'line/continuity', which in my opinion adds greatly to their beauty...OTOH (on the other hand) I have no appreciation whatosever for that disjointed chunky art like Picasso...oh well, DSFDF (different strokes for different folks)....

Re: The Din of Iniquity Sure is Flashy – I Won a $100

Piano Man Kugie — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:53:22 -0000

I'm so glad you quit when you did. If I start on those things, I can easily lose over $80 in just a matter of minutes. My greediness gets the best of me there. So I stay away from them, whether Nevada or any of the local Native American Casinos. Besides the smoke which makes me cough.

Re: Live Blogging from 35,000 ft – Madame Big Hair Edition

Piano Man Kugie — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:19:47 -0000

Sounds like a spare the hair day!

Re: Are You Sick With Some Sort of Ick? Swine Flu, Normal Flu and Sinus Infections

Piano Man Kugie — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:45:02 -0000

Not sick, fortunately. Haven't been for many many months. Thank God for that. School year just started here so no news yet on any quick spreading viruses.....but the local districts are prepared with surgical masks and sanitizing hand gel, and the county will be tracking it closely also.

Re: Of Godly Desire, Lust and The Goal of Freedom – Ask It Basket

Piano Man Kugie — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:04:07 -0000

Not only to pray for them, but to remember they too have been bought with a Price (whether they believe that [yet] or not) and they belong to Him, not to me; again, whatsoever I would do to them, I would do to Him; so those two thoughts are great temptation quenchers.

Re: Happy Thanksgiving 2008 Video

Piano Man Kugie — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:43:12 -0000

Thank you! Happy day after Thanksgiving to you! The LORD is sooooooooooooooooo good!

Re: Happy Thanksgiving 2008 Video

Piano Man Kugie — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:00:00 -0000

Thank you! Happy day after Thanksgiving to you! The LORD is sooooooooooooooooo good!

Re: Bad Mensley … Bad Bad Mensley …

Piano Man Kugie — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:09:28 -0000

Guess that makes me Kugsley.

Re: Bad Mensley … Bad Bad Mensley …

Piano Man Kugie — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:09:28 -0000

Guess that makes me Kugsley.

Re: Shot a Video – Need Suggestions

Piano Man Kugie — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:12:01 -0000

Or 10th member of the US Supreme Court? How do you feel about wearing a black robe?

Re: Chased, Caught – My New Article On Boundless Webzine for Young Adults

Piano Man Kugie — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 17:35:27 -0000

1. Yes, when I learned that Strauss was only 18 when he wrote that song that ends "wie einst im Mai" I was utterly jealous and shocked, because of the depth of the song and the youth of the composer. But I got over that. 2. Praise God there is openness to Him. Maybe that's because the people see that you're open to them :) 3. Yes the Performing Arts are of course emotionally charged by definition because there's nothing "purely intellectual" or "purely mental" about them (even for Music Historians and Theoricians). But here's a laugh: one of my friends told me they heard a professor say in class there was no unifying theme to Handel's Messiah. (Perhaps the professor missed the texts/lyrics and was only considering the music)......

Re: Chased, Caught – My New Article On Boundless Webzine for Young Adults

Piano Man Kugie — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 23:11:42 -0000

Sorry about the late reply, I just discovered a few things about disqus. Anyway, now I only play at church. From 1985 to 2000 I was a community college, university, or seminary accompanist for oratorio/community/chamber choirs (on either piano or organ), a vocal coach for voice students (opera arias, yuck); and a few odd jobs in the music department offices here and there like choral music librarian; performed some choral works of Brahms (Liebeslieder etc.) , Rutter (Gloria, at the organ, Requiem, etc), Bernstein (Chichester, at the organ), Stravinsky (Psalms), California ACDA music reading and conducting workshops and All State Honor Choirs, 24 Italian Songs from Hades, etc., over 20 times rehearsal pianist for musical theatre including 3 different productions of Oklahoma, etc. Fifteen years of piano lessons and two and half years of organ lessons. In 2000 I decided I had enough of working days and nights and weekends and being unemployed every summer, so I got a M-F 8-5 office job with 52 weeks of work and no evenings and no weekends and no 45 mile one way commute. Didn't get to do as much chamber music as I would have liked (piano trios, quartets, quintets, etc) but I'm fine without it. I haven't practiced seriously since 2000. I do have fond memories of playing piano concertos and harpsichord concertos with orchestras and of working with some awesome choral conductors, and even though I hardly play anymore except for only one choir at church, I decided that pianomankugie was as good of blog name as any. But so much of that was people pleasing and isolating by choice and hiding behind the piano, three things I got very tired of doing. I may go back someday, but right now I am enjoying an extended vacation. As for the colleges and universities, there is just too much temptation there for me to want to have to deal with for now, if you know what I mean.

Re: Chased, Caught – My New Article On Boundless Webzine for Young Adults

Piano Man Kugie — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:08:24 -0000

Thank you for sharing this part of your story. Good stuff. God at work, making Himself known. I love it. Reminded me of the history of disconnect between me and my Dad, and an example of it: he didn't invite me to go on deer hunting trips with him because he knew I wouldn't like it, and I didn't ask him to go along because avoiding deer hunting and guns was more important to me than spending time with him (sigh). But what a bonding we had the last month of his life when he was in a hospice bed in his living room. Dad was my biggest fan as far as piano music goes, even though I was "that way" he still loved me. Even though he would send me away when I wanted to look over his shoulder at whatever project he was working on (and when he wasn't watching football games or napping he was always doing something), because he said I made him nervous, now I realize that says as much about his ability to be made nervous as my ability to make him nervous. But I echo your thoughts, God Dad in Heaven more than makes up for any perceived rejection or lack we've had. Yes Praise Him!

Re: Chased, Caught – My New Article On Boundless Webzine for Young Adults

Piano Man Kugie — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 17:35:27 -0000

Re: Chased, Caught – My New Article On Boundless Webzine for Young Adults

Piano Man Kugie — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 23:11:42 -0000

Re: Chased, Caught – My New Article On Boundless Webzine for Young Adults

Piano Man Kugie — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:08:24 -0000

Re: Chased, Caught – My New Article On Boundless Webzine for Young Adults

Piano Man Kugie — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 04:35:27 -0000

Re: Chased, Caught – My New Article On Boundless Webzine for Young Adults

Piano Man Kugie — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 10:11:42 -0000

Re: Chased, Caught – My New Article On Boundless Webzine for Young Adults

Piano Man Kugie — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:08:24 -0000

Re: One of The Most Oddly Inspired Posts You Will Ever Be Asked To Participate In

Piano Man Kugie — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:32:15 -0000

If you like those crowded noisy urban areas that just go on and on and on where life is mostly cement concrete asphalt metal paint glass heat noise traffic, then by all means visit SF Bay Area and LA Megopolis....in the summertime you could visit Mt Lassen, Lake Tahoe, the Great Sequoia Trees at Sequoia National Park, Calaveras Big Trees, and if you don't mind a few crowds and noise, Yosemite Valley. Only go to Florida if you like to be wetter after you dry off after a shower than you were in the shower. And if you do go to Florida, definitely do NOT go in the summer! I'd have to visit Death Valley afterward just to recover from the humidity.

Re: "Stop It" Therapy for The Masses – A Day Dream

Piano Man Kugie — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:44:38 -0000

Well Said Well Said! I don't go around calling myself an ex-depressive ex-ADD glasses-only-contacts-are-forbidden (aint' nobuddy gunna put those things in my eyes) non-pierced ex-broken-armed half azorean-portuguese ex-roman-catholic etc etc etc etc yuck. I like to refer to myself as a follower of Christ and a new creation In Him with a saved spirit, a being saved soul, and a body not yet saved/regenerated.

Re: "Stop It" Therapy for The Masses – A Day Dream

Piano Man Kugie — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:38:41 -0000

Used-to-deeply-believe-I-could-find-a-man-who-would-be-a- good-match-until-surprise of surprises The Spritual Lover made Himself known to me and the physical lovers just weren't so satisfying anymore. How's that?

Re: Of Gay Activists, "Rights" and Common Ground?

Piano Man Kugie — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:52:44 -0000

Thank you! I needed a good laugh. That line about the cage and being served up as coq au vin was just too funny. Thanks!

Re: War Against Whining … A Revolution Now! Sassy Pose Edition

Piano Man Kugie — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 06:28:48 -0000

1. OK, my cat is a big baby too, but a baby that runs away from me instead of jumping and slobbering on me.....10. No comment about 10? Oh well, not everyone need get excited about natural geologic wonders.....A.D.D. moment here, a few comments about your art: that's cool, becuz I look at your art and think, too random for me, but it only APPEARS to be random to me; the design is there, I just don't get it with my Abstract Concrete (ref: Gregorg) mind...NICE colors! in your art work! Cool! I love the strong colors, none of that French wimpy stuff pale showing in your art......13. OK, I did 12 instead of 10 because I couldn't decide which 2 to leave out :) then after I posted, I realized that I could be perceived to be whining about dogs and food at Ridgecrest...... :) which would leave me with only 10.......G I M sillee.......PRAISE GOD I forgot to take my pills for two days, one of which is an antidepressant, and for the first time in over 10 years, there is NO E-OR (Pooh's pessimistic mule) dark cloud life-is-not-worth-living hanging over me, I believe I am experiencing a healing here. Part of it again is that not only will no one take away my joy (LORD said so), but no THING is gonna take away my joy either....I'm not gonna be depressed because I have "that" problem.....whoopee!! Now instead of depression I am feeling anxiety: OK LORD, next level of the onion please.......

Re: War Against Whining … A Revolution Now! Sassy Pose Edition

Piano Man Kugie — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 10:05:15 -0000

In no particular order:1. My cat! Sigh, what's with all you dog lovers? Dogs are rude obnoxious babies and they don't purr!!2. No longer freaking out about my temptations means they have even less power over me; after 30 years I've come to a point of accepting my weakness (same sex attraction) as a blessing (thorn in the flesh) to keep me from ever thinking or feeling I don't need HIM (God).3. My wife who agrees with me that "If I can't get along with you, I can't get along with anyone, so lets suffer with Christ and keep going together; nothing in this fallen world is perfect".4. Indoor plumbing and tap water that doesn't give you montezuma's revenge5. Chinese Food from Chinese Restaurants in California; not that stuff served at Ridgecrest6. Good recordings of good music like Brahms which everyone else thinks is sad but I (Mr. Melancholy) think is absolutely gorgeous and it cheers me up!7. An 8-5 weekday year-round 52-week job with stable monthly paychecks, NO evenings, NO weekends, and I am no longer a community college music accompanist since June 2000 (YEA!)8. To have inherited good health9. A Dad who loved me even though I was "that"10. To have been able to experience in person the beauty that is Yellowstone and Crater Lake and Mount Lassen and Kauai and Palm Springs Aerial Tram and Mendocino Coast and......11. Salem Radio and Fox News Channel12. That I've never had to kill anyone or join the military

Re: New Art – Basic Vantage Point

Piano Man Kugie — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:09:29 -0000

I like that the outflow from the sun is like a covering, a protective sheet, not something invasive or harmful that is heading straight for me......my brain thinks that the "rays" would be coming off the sphere in all directions like needles pointing out of a pin cushion in all directions up, down, around, outward; my heart is glad that the sun is not doing what my brain expects. Viewing this art is a good practice for my mind to work in ways it is not accustomed. Perhaps I'm one of those lefties who is in his left mind, not his right.....and if so, that's OK.

Re: New Art – Basic Vantage Point

Piano Man Kugie — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:09:29 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:14:49 -0000

What's sorrowful is that apparently he did not feel safe enough in church to share his real self so that people could be praying for him; he must have feared that they might have disowned him and given him the left foot of fellowship, even though he was apparently being faithful to his wife for all those years. What's sorrowful is that he didn't feel safe revealing his temptations, fearing that the fact that he was tempted would seem to some to be tantamount to sinning. What's sorrowful is that the judgmental church members who would disown him merely for being tempted would also have to disown Christ, for Christ was also tempted. And now, instead of receiving support to continue in holiness, he has temporarily turned to walk another way. So I see what there is to pray for is this: that the very people he was afraid of for 30 years will reach out to him; and that if they do not, that his current direction will fail and he will turn back and reach out to the church that will not condemn him for what his temptations are. Sorry, I feel strongly about this, nothing personal. Who knows, perhaps this current situation for him is part of God's plan of redemption for him; it doesn't make sense to me, but then God's ways are far above and better than my ways.

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:04:36 -0000

Ellie, did you mean to say, former liars, former murderers, former theives, former rapists? ...and that is what some of you WERE (not are). Doesn't Rev. state that outside are those who did not exchange their lives for His?

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:28:30 -0000

Piano Man here. I just reread my response to Patrick above, and OK, it is LONG. OK, I'll keep everything short. If I can't say it short, I won't say it. Thank you for having this blog. I don't have a blog, and I'm not about to place my email address here. Thanks again Randy for the blog. :)

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:23:43 -0000

Hi Patrick, my thoughts for what they're worth: 1. My primary hope is in the next life, not this one, and I've already entered into the next life in my spirit, am entering into it in my soul, and my body gets to wait until later. So part of me my spirit is rejoicing, part of me is walking and struggling my soul, and part of me my body is dying. It's very true you are in pain; well it's true that I'm in pain too, and I think everyone is in one kind of pain or another. Since I am never totally able to have/do/be everything I want in this life, I accept suffering as a given. And suffering is definitely never pleasant. But I ask you to further consider the thought that some suffering might actually bring forth more good than bad. 2. Holiness isn't what I would naturally think of as a solution for being sexually alone, nor would anyone else naturally think that. So if it is a solution, it's a different solution. My craving for sweets can be solved by eating sweets, but it may also be solved through not eating sweets. Just a thought. 3. The LORD is willing to be with you in spiritual union, and you may find Him to be adequate compensation for the lack of physical union, as odd as it seems. His kingdom really is far out of this world. As for Rules, they literally kill; but the Spirit gives life. 4. I'm not strong enough to live my life alone, very few are, in and of their own strength and power. I suffered when I was with a man, I suffered when I was without a man, now I suffer when I'm with my wife and I suffer when I'm without her. Suffering is a given for everyone. You are not alone in this. You're right, it's not fair. Fair would be the death and permanent destruction of all of us. Harsh? Oh yes. No one is ever good enough to go to heaven, and the LORD had very harsh words for those folks in his day who believed they were good enough. The good news is that we don't have to try, we get to surrender to Him, and the time to do so is now, whenever now is (any time, all the time). There are three kinds of love: spiritual, brotherly/sisterly, and sexual. All are true, but the truest of the three is the permanent ever present one, the spiritual love of Christ Jesus. When he encourages me to glorify God with my body, he's encouraging me to reflect the image of God. Since the image of God is both male and female, I perceive that male and male is only half of God's image, or put another way, instead of Christ the Groom and the Church the Bride, it would be Christ the Groom and Christ the Groom, God making love to himself instead of to us. Yes I agree this whole concept is bizarre, I just ask you to consider it all. 5. RE giving up my own personhood: You are Patrick. If you are in Christ, you are a new creation and you have already given up your personhood, or I should say, your life has been exchanged for His life, which is better than any of ours. I find myself beginning to notice more women over time, and less men. Noticing men still yes. It is a process, so far 24 years of process since I was 22. Would that it would be a shorter process, but then again, that might be too sudden of a shock, so I'll accept the more gradual process. Easy? Fair? No. But I already concluded that life as it was was also not easy and not fair either. God may have attractions for women in your future, but then you'd have to live with dealing with those. Sounds to me like you have enough to deal with already. I confess I don't understand and can't understand what it's like to be a woman in a man's body; I only know what it's like to feel the very intense desire for a man. And I also know that God loves you and wants to be your spiritual lover. To your question How is it sinful? No more than the greedy, or the slanderer, or the self-righteous, etc. 6. I can feel the frustration, I can't fix it, I can't soothe it. The question is for you to decide for yourself, because only you have the right to do that, I don't think anyone is questioning that much. The question is: Is a successful life of lonliness etc. better than the alternative? May you find peace. I believe you'll find peace in the Prince of Peace, but that's just my belief. Thanks for reading. And remember, God can relate to your suffering and God can empathize with your suffering, totally. Scripture explicitly states that he was tempted in all ways as are we, so I conclude that God from his human experience must also know what it is like to feel the pain of feeling like a woman trapped in a man's body, even if only for a short moment in time, and God in his human experience also knows what it's like to never have sex with anyone but to still have sexual desires. Christ MUST be able to totally relate to us as God in human flesh, and the good news is, He does.

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:20:42 -0000

Thank you. Part of me grieves (that's a strong word but it fits) each time I hear of another famous musician yielding that-a-way rather than this-a-way, since we must yield regardless, and be slaves/servants regardless. Some say that the message "My yoke is easy and my burden is light" was written to those weighed down by the guilt/shame of the religious do's and don'ts, and that the message "Take up your cross and deny yourself" was written to a different audience in different circumstances, to those who were all about serving themselves, living for pleasure, pleasure seekers, etc. Since I was BOTH weighed down by the rules/regulations/LETTER and I was also a pleasure seeker, I merge the two: taking up my cross is an easy yoke, and denying myself is a light burden. (hopefully that's rightly multiplying the Word; I'm not so good at rightly dividing it). And since I was also in a third category, those looking for the ONE person, I can only recommend the LORD as THAT Person. There are many who can relate, so I gladly add my voice to the chorus of encouragement. I fully expect to be part of the fragrance of life to those being saved, and the fragrance of death to those who are still abiding in judgement and haven't YET turned to HIM, so it's no big thing to receive opposite feedback from opposite sides.

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 23:48:15 -0000

I fear radical transparency, yet I desire it also. Pray that the desire overcomes the fear. This is all about WALKING and PRACTICING day by day, just as everything the Spirit leads us into. Praise God we have THE Advocate Christ Jesus. Praise God the Spirit has the POWER to live His life thru our continually-ongoing-being-crucified-flesh. When the time is right, my wife and I will know, and THEN our testimony will go beyond our pastors in private to our friends and church acquaintances in the local Body. P.S. It was good to see you and Mensley in Fresno in April.

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 06:28:30 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:14:49 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:04:36 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:23:43 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:20:42 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:48:15 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz “Coming Out”

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:48:15 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz “Coming Out”

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:20:42 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz “Coming Out”

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:23:43 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz “Coming Out”

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:04:36 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz “Coming Out”

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:14:49 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz “Coming Out”

Piano Man Kugie — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 06:28:30 -0000

Re: New Art - Basic Vantage Point

Piano Man Kugie — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:09:29 -0000

Re: War Against Whining … A Revolution Now! Sassy Pose Edition

Piano Man Kugie — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 10:05:15 -0000

In no particular order:
1. My cat! Sigh, what's with all you dog lovers? Dogs are rude obnoxious babies and they don't purr!!

2. No longer freaking out about my temptations means they have even less power over me; after 30 years I've come to a point of accepting my weakness (same sex attraction) as a blessing (thorn in the flesh) to keep me from ever thinking or feeling I don't need HIM (God).

3. My wife who agrees with me that "If I can't get along with you, I can't get along with anyone, so lets suffer with Christ and keep going together; nothing in this fallen world is perfect".

4. Indoor plumbing and tap water that doesn't give you montezuma's revenge

5. Chinese Food from Chinese Restaurants in California; not that stuff served at Ridgecrest

6. Good recordings of good music like Brahms which everyone else thinks is sad but I (Mr. Melancholy) think is absolutely gorgeous and it cheers me up!

7. An 8-5 weekday year-round 52-week job with stable monthly paychecks, NO evenings, NO weekends, and I am no longer a community college music accompanist since June 2000 (YEA!)

8. To have inherited good health

9. A Dad who loved me even though I was "that"

10. To have been able to experience in person the beauty that is Yellowstone and Crater Lake and Mount Lassen and Kauai and Palm Springs Aerial Tram and Mendocino Coast and......

11. Salem Radio and Fox News Channel

12. That I've never had to kill anyone or join the military

Re: War Against Whining … A Revolution Now! Sassy Pose Edition

Piano Man Kugie — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 06:28:48 -0000

1. OK, my cat is a big baby too, but a baby that runs away from me instead of jumping and slobbering on me.....
10. No comment about 10? Oh well, not everyone need get excited about natural geologic wonders.....A.D.D. moment here, a few comments about your art: that's cool, becuz I look at your art and think, too random for me, but it only APPEARS to be random to me; the design is there, I just don't get it with my Abstract Concrete (ref: Gregorg) mind...NICE colors! in your art work! Cool! I love the strong colors, none of that French wimpy stuff pale showing in your art......

13. OK, I did 12 instead of 10 because I couldn't decide which 2 to leave out :) then after I posted, I realized that I could be perceived to be whining about dogs and food at Ridgecrest...... :) which would leave me with only 10.......G I M sillee.......PRAISE GOD I forgot to take my pills for two days, one of which is an antidepressant, and for the first time in over 10 years, there is NO E-OR (Pooh's pessimistic mule) dark cloud life-is-not-worth-living hanging over me, I believe I am experiencing a healing here. Part of it again is that not only will no one take away my joy (LORD said so), but no THING is gonna take away my joy either....I'm not gonna be depressed because I have "that" problem.....whoopee!! Now instead of depression I am feeling anxiety: OK LORD, next level of the onion please.......

Re: One of The Most Oddly Inspired Posts You Will Ever Be Asked To Participate In

Piano Man Kugie — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:32:15 -0000

Re: “Stop It” Therapy for The Masses - A Day Dream

Piano Man Kugie — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:38:41 -0000

Re: “Stop It” Therapy for The Masses - A Day Dream

Piano Man Kugie — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:44:38 -0000

Re: Of Gay Activists, “Rights” and Common Ground?

Piano Man Kugie — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:52:44 -0000

Thank you! I needed a good laugh. That line about the cage and being served up as coq au vin was just too funny. Thanks!

Re: Chased, Caught - My New Article On Boundless Webzine for Young Adults

Piano Man Kugie — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:08:24 -0000

Re: Bad Mensley … Bad Bad Mensley …

Piano Man Kugie — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:09:28 -0000

Guess that makes me Kugsley.

Re: Shot a Video - Need Suggestions

Piano Man Kugie — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:12:01 -0000

Or 10th member of the US Supreme Court? How do you feel about wearing a black robe?

Re: Of Christianists & Fascism: A Sign of Things to Come?

Piano Man Kugie — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 02:00:00 -0000

I agree, the best way to go about change is the path of truth and grace. Don't compromise grace, and don't compromise truth. Requires being relaxed and being diligent, being secure enough in who we are so as not to be threatened by the perceived "other". I smile to think some people are puzzled by me because I don't fit into their nice little box. If only they understood that temptation is not an identity. I'm no longer threatened by those from both sides who have judged me as a hypocrite because I don't fit into either side. Hopefully many others will continue to also reach that place of Rest In Him and abide there. HE is not ashamed to call me his brother, a fact which continues to blow my mind.

Re: Spam Flood and Registered Comments

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:00:00 -0000

I think I figured out how to add a picture, so no more grey icon for me.

Re: Happy Thanksgiving 2008 Video

Piano Man Kugie — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:00:00 -0000

Thank you! Happy day after Thanksgiving to you! The LORD is sooooooooooooooooo good!

Re: Chased, Caught - My New Article On Boundless Webzine for Young Adults

Piano Man Kugie — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 10:11:42 -0000

Re: Chased, Caught - My New Article On Boundless Webzine for Young Adults

Piano Man Kugie — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 04:35:27 -0000

Re: Family Guy Goes Gay to The AFA’s Dismay

Piano Man Kugie — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 03:33:23 -0000

I haven't watched it and won't watch it. Sounds way too toxic to my mind. Thanks though for the warning.

Re: Free Will, Raging Heterosexuality and Playing Games with God

Piano Man Kugie — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:13:52 -0000

I don't think it can be overemphasized that Jesus was tempted in every manner. The fact that God Himself knows what any and every temptation is like from His own personal human experience is extremely comforting. He has done it so that no one can say "God can't empathize" or "God hasn't experienced what it's like down here" or "God doesn't really care", etc. Of course God can't be tempted, but Christ is 100% God And 100% Man. And even better, for those of us who are In Christ (and only God can be the judge of whether or not a person is or isn't In Christ) the Holy Spirit is right In us in the midst of any and every temptation. I believe (and I could be wrong) that He (God) is the only one who has the power to say no to temptation, I sure don't have the power in myself, so without Him, as far as I am concerned, forget it. But With Him....ALL things are possible! It's just a "simple" matter of giving up on my own "power" and submitting to his true power, because "trying to be good" is futile. Yes, giving up and submitting...easier said than done, but like most things, gets a little bit easier over time with practice.

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:48:15 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:20:42 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:23:43 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:04:36 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:14:49 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 06:28:30 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 23:48:15 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:20:42 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:23:43 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:28:30 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:04:36 -0000

Re: On Chris Fabry Live Concerning Ray Boltz "Coming Out"

Piano Man Kugie — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:14:49 -0000

Re: Big Hollywood (Conservative Blog) Defends Adam Lambert's Silence

Piano Man Kugie — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 23:02:21 -0000

Yes! Self determination. Good for him if he does not permit himself to be used by any side of any issue, and simply just BE. Sounds very healthy to me, not being dependent on the approval of others, one way or the other. Not going through life as a people pleaser. Not being easily swayed by the crowd one is hanging out with at any particular time. Not speaking one way to one audience and another way to another, but just being REAL all the time.

Re: Big Hollywood (Conservative Blog) Defends Adam Lambert's Silence

Piano Man Kugie — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:56:25 -0000

I was thinking that the realness is not made by the self-determined self-disclosure; rather, the self-determined self-disclosure is an effect or a result of real-ness that is already there; no need to wear more masks than usual, no need to pretend one is someone one is not, nor on the other hand no need to be overly-out either; in otherwords, avoiding the extremes of on the one hand hiding in the closet, and on the other hand, being "in-your-face-everyone-should-know-my-private-stuff". A comfortableness with oneself that does not cause one to be either overly revealing or overly hiding.

Re: Of Godly Desire, Lust and The Goal of Freedom – Ask It Basket

Piano Man Kugie — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:04:07 -0000

Re: Celebrating: 17 Post-gay Years Later

Piano Man Kugie — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:24:59 -0000

The Lord is good. He's keeping me and growing me. It's difficult to believe that verse about 'momentary light affliction' since the affliction seems neither momentary nor light. But that all goes back to perspective. All he asks is for me not to harden my heart 'today'. I'm so glad we're directed by Him to live in the now and let tomorrow and yesterday take care of themselves. It's not easy to live in the now, but I suppose if it's like music, it will get better as I practice. So I'll keep on practicing living in the now!

Re: Celebrating: 17 Post-gay Years Later

Piano Man Kugie — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:13:35 -0000

Yes indeed. There is "the past" and there is "my past". I can look at "the past" (of the world, of the church, of the U.S., etc) and I learn from it. I look at "my past" and if it's not something that God has done, I'd rather not look. But when it is the work of God, it does good to remember it, especially in tough moments.

Re: Are You Sick With Some Sort of Ick? Swine Flu, Normal Flu and Sinus Infections

Piano Man Kugie — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:45:02 -0000

Re: Live Blogging from 35,000 ft – Madame Big Hair Edition

Piano Man Kugie — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:19:47 -0000

Sounds like a spare the hair day!

Re: The Din of Iniquity Sure is Flashy – I Won a $100

Piano Man Kugie — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:53:22 -0000

Re: Kevin Jennings And Some of The Other Issues At Hand

Piano Man Kugie — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:59:32 -0000

If a teen came to me with this story, I would ask "Why do you feel your life is not worth saving?" and then see where the discussion leads, with me having an intent to communicate that the teen's life IS worth saving, and help the teen to come to that conclusion also. I think the need to belong and to feel valued and accepted and to be special to someone causes all of us, all people, to do all sorts of things, some more healthy and some less healthy.

But if I'm not already an important person in that teen's life or have no history with them, then of course I haven't earned the right to express my personal opinions, etc., besides which, they probably wouldn't ask me, because who am I? Just some adult they felt safe enough to confide in. But IF they did ask me for my opinion, I would walk carefully, saying this is my personal opinion, but of course, you, like every other person, will need to decide for yourself etc. how you will live your life. I would say I think it's unhealthy for you to let an adult use you sexually. If they asked why? I'd answer because it's disrespectful to you for an adult to act that way toward you. If they protested further that they don't deserve respect, I would immediately do what I could to get them to a trained counselor a.s.a.p.

Hopefully all of us blogging here could all agree that any adult taking sexual advantage of a vulnerable teen is not healthy, for the adult or for the teen, regardless of preferences and sexuality, and that too many people on the planet are being misused by others already, even willingly or consensually, and most of those people are straight, simply because there are more of them; but that doesn't make it healthy just because it happens.