The Ten Commandments, Silvardo, House of Sand and Fog, Open Range, Pans Labrinyth, Cars, Finding Nemo, Shrek (all), ShawShank Redemption, It's A Wonderful Life, Where the Red Fern Grows, Pirates of the Carribean, An Inconvenient Truth, Signs, World Trade Center, The Matrix, Anchorman, Talladega Nights, X Men, Spiderman, Unleashed, Lord of the Rings, A History of Violence, The Invincibles, Shane,
Television
When I watch TV--CSI, Cops, Discovery Channel, Family Guy, The Simpsons, Bonanza.
Clark Pinnock (Theologian from McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario, personal friend), James K. A. Smith (philosopher from Calvin College in Grand Rapids Michigan), Greg Boyd of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul MN, Dwayne Polk (assistant pastor at Woodland Hills Church), Gordon D. Fee (Professor [retired] Regent College Vancouver British Columbia), Paul Scibetta (close friend)
About me: Heya...my name is actually Brandon and not "Brando." "Brando" (pronounced "Brandooooo"), is the name my buddy "Paul Scibetta" (my "friend" at myspace) calls me when we visit each other. But you can call me Brando too.
I have three wonderful children, Brandon (15), Brooke (13) and Brett (11) (pics soon to come).
As you can see, (by my "friends") I LOVE music. I grew up singing in the church choir and doing solos and touring in a musical group or two. In January of '92 I moved to Dallas Texas and went to Christ for the Nations where I was also involved in music as well. I've taken three years of vocal lessons with two vocal coaches here in my home town of Windsor, Ontario, Canada (Carolyn Price and Lisa Stewart) and one in Dallas (Marlene Bigley who has written several worship choruses i.e. Great and Might is The Lord and Come Let Us Offer. Lisa Stewart, highly esteemed my singing that she wanted me to meet with the Toronto director of the musical, "Phantom of the Opera." What a wonderful compliment!) My style ranges from James Ingram, Jeffrey Osborne, Peabo Bryson, Lionel Richie, Chris Willis, Gino Vannelli, Michael McDonald, Michael English, Jonathan Pierce, Billy Joel, Elton John, Michael O'Brien, Russ Taff, George Michaels, Keith Dudley and Elvis--to name a few.
As you can also see, I love to read (you would never know that from looking at a guy who was put behind twice in grade school and finished High School in his mid-twenties! I do have a theory about this though. It all started...). I have written to some of the authors listed here (who enjoy the feedback and have kindly responded in like manner. Wink! Wink! Write your favorite author!!!). Clark Pinnock and Greg Boyd are a couple of theologians I've had the opportunity and pleasure of meeting, with Clark becoming a personal friend. Of late, (fellow Canadian) James K.A. Smith's stuff REALLY fascinates me and is foundational for grasping some of the many currents presently taking place within modern evangelical theology. His stuff deals with phenomenology (that is, do we see the world "as is?"), interpretation and hermeneutics (do we have the "unadorned voice of God" or is it mediated through tradition and historical situatedness/locatedness and why there is such a plurality of voices [though not unlimited] in Christendom and what this mean in terms of the nature of truth). With a pinch of politics here, a smattering of theology there and a dose of philosophy within the "long Augustinian tradition of theological cultural critique..." (as he says at his website) informed from within the Reformed tradition, you'll come to understanding the paradigm shifts in Evangelicalism that some lament as a weakness. Sounds right up my alley!
You can check out his website here at : James K.A. SmithMySpace Layouts @ HOTFreeLayouts.comMyHotComments
Thanks for the birthday wishes. Percy sent me a dozen roses and said he was sorry he couldn't be here with me and for me to make it a wonderful bday in his absence because I am getting older and have to be careful cause I could break a hip. He is such a nut but he made me laugh really hard with that one. How are you doing?
Cute pic! It is good to hear from you and thanks for asking. I haven't been online much because of the battle you spoke of. Let's just say that God is amazing and he is very healing and we can see a light at the end of the tunnel. We know that we are going to be ok. How goes things with you?
Hi brando ...good to hear from you...love makes the world go around..as they say and so much more is needed these days you are right...have a great day...love chris
