min rager and piano

last night after work i went and listened to min rager play. she is a korean born jazz pianist. she lives in canada now. it was wonderful to listen to this quintet play. the piano playing was outstanding. the band was such enjoyment. i would like to hear more from her. a quintet is interesting. i noticed throughout the set, it will start with the five, then go to a four with either a trumpet or saxophone solo. then it will end in a trio, just piano,bass and drum. you could hear the piano playing best in the trio. however she manages to keep rhythm and playing during those horn solos. overall i enjoyed myself and hope to buy her album sometime
now about piano, i have to say thelonious monk is one of my favorite jazz pianist. the less playing he does and the sort of childlike at times playing, make it a pleasure to listen. if one listens to the solo monk album, it will give a sense to his outstanding piano playing. also listening to keith jarrett is wonderful as well. bill evans and dave brubeck are also my favorite jazz pianist. when it comes to piano and vocal, patricia barber is the one. if there is any other i should listen. any comments will be welcomed.

groups

last weekend i joined in prayer with people from the japanese church. throughout this year, the church has a summit. times of prayer,fasting and discussion on the direction for the church. beginning of this year, i have not attended this church. the reason is various. one is i found a church that i find better worship. another is that i am disappointed with the church.
this week, as i had time to think, the thought of groups came into my mind. throughout my life, i've been in various groups. church,scouts,school etc. i find that in a church, being in certain groups, gives people in that group some sort of superiority. i've felt lonely being left out of certain groups. the worst place that any group gets made is in bible college. surrounded by fellow christians, many groups spring up. it is inevitable. however, some like myself don't like to be in just one group of people. anyways, groups just happen. and people want other people to hang out with.

love and marriage

last sunday i went to sol cafe. the talk was on marriage. discussions about how should marriage work. what to do with conflict etc. were talked about. i talked of my own struggle as a single man. for me, the reason i'm single is for various reason. one is that i'm not completely happy with myself. that i need to resolve an issue before i feel i could be in a relationship. another is that being christian, i need to find someone with the same belief. also, my culture plays a big part. being canadian with the outer looking asian as well inside. well i'm looking for someone who understands the culture and language. so it's been a struggle for me looking for someone. there's been many good comments that came out of that sunday. and it lingered on me till wednesday.
wednesday afternoon, i watched the colbert report. colbert talked first of princess sayoko and about her losing her royal status. later in the day, i read an article on her wedding. in it was about how she will have to do the cooking, learning to drive, going to the supermarket etc. and how a difference from having foods prepared for her. it's the upside cinderlla story. i'm not sure how many girls these days think of fairy tale weddings. however, princess sayoko decided to relinquish all her privileges.(she still gets a one time sum of 1.5million plus some sort of monthly payment.) it made me think of what marriage is a little more. as a christian we are encouraged to marry fellow believers. yet for those who are not, marriage is something different. i know couples who have been married long time. i know some on the verge of divorce. so i'm still trying to figure it out, when christian couples enter into a marriage, God is in it as well. if anyone has any input i would like to hear back.
on a final note, looking at my parent's, other christian couples in various stages of their marriage. i do look foward to the day that i get married. there are those rushing and wanting to see me get married. for them i will have to say that i'm still trying to figure myself and yes even in marriage it will continue. i have to say i'm just not ready to get married.

morning get together and remembrance day

this morning i met with my friend over coffee. i had a chai latte. anyways. it's good to have a fellow christian friend to talk with. we've talked about many things. these times i have with my friend is valuable, and i need to continue meeting together like this. i encourage those to take time to spend with a friend and encourage one another. to pray because in these times God is always with us. (God is and always will be with us.)
i also in the morning attended a remembrance day service. it was a good reminder to remember that the men and women who fought in both world war, died for our freedom. now for me i'm in a interesting situation. my grandfather fought in the second world war for japan. i have to say i'm ashamed of what japan did. these men, most didn't know the whole truth. so i'm not going to condemn most of them. i however am ashamed of the leaders. so being of japanese decent, it doesn't seep into me about remembering day. and as a Canadian, i am gracious and thankful to these men and women who fought in the war. i will do my best to continue remembering what they did for this wonderful country we call canada.

it's friday

well we're now into november. almost a month and half till christmas. it was only several days that people were dressing up for halloween. and now we see christmas decorations on sale.
lately i've been tired and depressed. it's been fairly okay this week at the restaurant. i need to really think before i say things. as well i need to change my attitude with people. for this i do need help from other christians. i was just reminded after reading a blog written by a fellow believer. so i ask for prayers from fellow like minded believers to pray for me this weekend. my prayer is that i will not get angry, to think before i do say something, and to be postive in my thinking.