I've been in the habit of drawing on placemats for longer than I can
recall. The picture to the right was drawn on a placemat two nights
ago while having dinner at Montana’s. It illicited the comment,
"That's the ugliest thing I've ever seen." ... I took it as a compliment.
Years ago, in High School, a girl called one of my cartoons “right
demonic!" One time, a famous CFL football player said my drawing
was 'racist.' Another guy, on a seperate occassion, also accused
me of 'racism.' The character I’d drawn had three eyes so, I assumed he must have been
good friends with some three-eyed people. Personally, I don’t know any.
I don't draw cartoons to degrade or offend people. I draw them to entertain ... likely
myself for the most part. The scarey thing is, there's always a little part of me in every
cartoon I draw ... even this one ... the ugliest thing someone had ever seen.
The Frankford Island Blues Festival presented by Belleville's
Loyal Blues Fellowship is this weekend. Weeks ago, a friend told
me the promoters were trying to find Blues Gospel performers for
Sunday, as they felt it may be odd for performers to be belting out
lyrics about their mojo, whiskey and selling their soul to the devil on
the Sabbath.
I just got off the phone with the organizers and I'll be performing a
set of Gospel Rock/Blues at the Festival. I've got to tip my hat to
them. This isn't a Christian festival and the Loyal Blues
Fellowship is not a fellowship by Church's definition. It's a bunch
of people who really like the Blues. I'm impressed with their thinking; and I'm greatlyly
looking forward to performing for them. I plan to give them 200%. So, if you're looking
for something to do this Sunday ... check the schedule out and drop on out to hear the
Preaching of the Blues.
Check the LOYAL BLUES FELLOWSHIP out HERE
Originally posted: JULY 6th, 2009
Originally posted: MAY 17th, 2009
Two years ago, I came upon this recording. My kids told their mother
they had never seen me laugh so hard. I was in tears. Not knowing
who the singer, I felt I had to come up with a name; so I dubbed him,
DIRK FIRKEL. I also felt a recording of this magnitude deserved
album artwork, so I came up with the picture at the right. I also did a
bit of noise reduction and EQ.
So ... go to the bathroom first and make sure you don't have any
food or drink in your mouth when he sings, "Fall on your knees!"
DIRK FIRKEL - “O HOLY NIGHT”
Now, in the weeks before Christmas, I like to go out shopping equipped with an MP3
player and an FM transmitter. Making my way to the electronics department, I tune
several stereos to the proper FM station and 'Dirk the store' ... it's hilarious.
Originally posted: DEC 3rd, 2008
Yesterday, I was performing at "Play A Round For The Kids" ... a
charity golf tournament to benefit the Quinte Children's
Foundation. I was entertaining the participants with “The Golfer”;
a parody of “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers. Consequently, I
was asked to appear on Mix 97’s, Morning Show with Sean and
Ingrid, here in Belleville. I had a great time horsing around with
them. I even sang an impromptu intro for the weatherman ("This
is Kevin with the weather; Greatest meteorologist EVER!"). I then
did an extended version of "The Golfer". Hopefully, Kenny Rogers
has a sense of humour.
The highlight, though, was singing a blues version of "Michael Row The Boat Ashore"
with Sean & Ingrid. This is an ongoing tradition that puts me in the company of Burton
Cummings, Larry Gowan and Canadian Idol, Ryan Malcolm. What a rush!
Originally posted: MAY 30th, 2008
When an item has a frontside and a backside; it has generally been
my understanding that the less desireable side will be the backside.
I realize this reference to the backside of the desert is geographic
in nature. However, given Moses' situation, I believe it is entirely
fitting to look at the backside of the desert metaphorically.
Moses had gone from the palaces of Egypt to becoming a lowly
shepherd. He finds himself leading his flock to the backside of the
desert. It soon becomes apparent that Moses' state of mind was also residing at the
backside of the desert. At this place, he wasn't exactly a pillar of confidence. In all
respects he was ... at the desert's backside.
Moses didn't merely crawl into a cave and declare it his new home. Let's face it ... the
backside of the desert doesn't exactly fit the real estate adage, "Location, location,
location." Moses looked around ... saw a burning bush ... and he investigated. Moses
listened ... heard God call him ... and he responded. Personally, I think the frontside of
the desert would have been a much more glamorous and desireable location for such a
meaningful encounter. However, at this point in my life, I'm content with the knowledge
that God has good reason for doing things the way He does.
At some point, you will find yourself in a place you don't really want to be. Socially ...
physically ... mentally ... spiritually ... or even emotionally. Whether you're a teenager
struggling with life's issues; an adult facing another major crisis or a young adult dealing
with new responsibilities and pressures ... you know when you've reached the backside
of the desert. Don't crawl into a cave and begin decorating just yet. God may want to
reveal Himself to you ... so look around. He may have something to say to you ... so be
listening. He may call you .... How will you respond?
I don't like being at the backside of the desert any more than you do. I don't want to be
here any longer than I need to be. Man, that burning bush has got to be around here
somewhere!
Originally posted: JANUARY 30th, 2008
Looking Back
Many times as a teenager, I found myself aggitated by an older
person talking about the good old days. Even today, a teenager’s
eyes will glaze over at the phrase, "When I was your age..."
However, looking back can actually be an act of wisdom. The book
of Hebrews says to remember those earlier days after you had
received the light (10:32). The following chapter then looks back
for thirty nine verses. In the same manner, I often look back
recalling the great moments of the Jesus Movement.
The way I figure it, there's a good way and a bad way to look back.
The bad way is when looking back causes us to journey backwards. Ecclesiates 7:10
advises us it is not wise to ask, "Why were the old days better than these?" When we
begin believing the old days were better, we stand in danger of living in the past (Jethro
Tull anyone?).
Our ability to look back becomes a valuable tool in assessing our journey. If we look
back to the adversities we've overcome, then we can learn. Looking back is vital in the
pursuit of righteousness and in seeking God.
"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord
... Look to the rock from which you were cut ... Look to the quarry
from which you were hewn." - Isaiah 51:1
I don't look back with any longing to return to the 'good old days' of being encased in a
rock or entombed in a quarry. I look back to confirm the fact that the highlights of my life
have been found in moments of righteousness. This enables me to wisely chart out the
course ahead.
Originally posted: JANUARY 18th, 2008
Dan Thomson is the frontman for a punk rock outfit from Ottawa
called Assemble Me. He’s also a good friend, a tremendous talent
and one of the nicer humans on the planet. I recently had the
honour of recording and producing their debut CD entitled
"Sharks.Human.Danger".
I thoroughly enjoyed working with Dan, Cam and Jeremy in the
sessions. Dan allowed me to lay some slide guitar on one track and
then there was Blind Willie ... you'll have to ask about that.
My son, Tayson, and I attended the CD Release Party in Ottawa
last night. Dan and company did a tremendous job presenting the live version of the CD
to a solid crowd of listeners who were noticeably transfixed by their intensity, passion
and energy. Either that or they were just stunned as to why the old guy standing on the
bench seat knew the lyrics to every song.
Check out the review - HERE
Originally posted: JANUARY 14th, 2008
Parts of it were great and parts were not great. For certain, it's all
behind us now. Last year is a memory. It's done, it's over and it lays
in a steaming pile on the ground behind us.
Admittedly, I'm limited in my knowledge of farming, but I understand
farmers place a certain value on ... dung. As I've driven by farms,
I've seen massive piles of dung. More disgustingly ... as I've driven
by farms, I've smelled massive piles of dung. As I understand it,
dung is used as fertilizer and it helps things grow.
Years come and go. When those years are put into a big pile,
they're like a big pile of dung. Like fertilizer, it helps us to grow. The years represent
experience; and we learn by experience. The great experiences ... and the not so great.
I'll leave you with a loose paraphrase you may have a difficult time forgetting.
"All piles of dung become a pile of fertilizer for those who love God."
Originally posted: JANUARY 10th, 2008
"You always hurt the one you love." That's what the song says. If
that's true, then you will always stand a chance of being hurt by the
ones you love. That's a loose application of the transitive authority
in mathematics. Mathematics adds up. Christmas doesn't.
It seems Christmas tends to be the holiday with the most associated
pain. In my opinion, the more the holiday becomes distanced from
celebrating the coming of Jesus Christ ... the better. Let the world
have their 'Happy Holiday' ... Let them have their 'Festive
Celebration' and their 'Jolly Elf'. It gets emptier each year. I'll be
content to celebrate Christ's birth every March 5th ... the day I accepted Christ as Lord in
my life.
Jesus knew hurt from those he loved ... He still does.
Originally posted: DECEMBER 24th, 2007
“AH GOTS DE BLUES”
Took my daughter to New Brunswick; She's starting university.
She got sick with tonsillitis; Heck and high adversity.
Van, you're like a brother; The White Head Ferry crew rocks.
It's hard to go home again; Man, life is full of hard knocks.
(I drew this cartoon on an unused Barf Bag)
Originally posted: SEPTEMBER 5th, 2007
It's vital for the Church to recognize, address, confront and abandon
the things that hinder it from being what it's supposed to be
(Hebrews 12:1-13). When Christians behave in a manner
uncharacteristic of what they are called to be, they enter 'The
Hypocrite Zone'. Yes, Virginia, there are hypocrites in church.
In the Church, I expect to see more evidence of the fruit of the Spirit
and less evidence of the acts of the sinful nature. I expect to see
Christ reigning ... not sin. I'm fairly confident that's what God
expects as well (Galatians 5:13-26). The Church will never be spotless by seeking a
peace treaty with Satan or a cease-fire in the war against the sinful nature.
Anti-church people will allow sin to rule the Church unchallenged ... I'm not
an anti-church person.
Originally posted: SEPTEMBER 2006
