A list of my top 360-degree videos

I’ve been trying to shoot more 360° videos because I think it’s magic. How in the world can a camera record all angles all the time? Actually, I don’t want to know the technology behind it, I’m just glad it exists. It’s amazing. Here are a few of my favorites that I’ve recorded, plus a surfing video that’s not mine, but it’s pretty awesome. Note: best viewed on a computer that shows 360 video, your phone, or a VR headset. Enjoy!
President Trump’s motorcade:

New Year’s Eve Countdown:

Kayaking downtown Nashville:

Surfing:

Has anyone ever told you…

There are many ways to finish the title of this post. Has anyone ever told you…

…you look great tonight?

…you look like Keira Knightley?

…you’re smart?

Those are just a few, and they’re all compliments. Of course, there are also less positive ways to finish the question…

you smell?

you have a “kick me” sign on your back?

you need a haircut?

Well, I’ll let you guess which of those happened to me this very weekend! Here’s how it went down. I attended a local church yesterday morning. Whilst chatting with a couple of friends, forming a triad not easily penetrated, a churchgoer clutched my shoulder. This person was outside the triad of trust so she was clearly determined to deliver her message. I turned to her and, along with my two friends, heard these words from her mouth:

Has anyone every told you you need a haircut?

Who does that? This woman was older, maybe in her 70s so my explanation for her actions was that she was just being a grandma. It’s something grandparents say to their grandkids, right? The thing is, I’ve no recollection of ever seeing this woman in my entire life, much less being her grandchild! I thought it was funny. The rest of the triad was taken aback by it and had a few ideas of how I could’ve responded. I’m never good in the moment so I think I remember just laughing and admitting it’s a little out of control.

We probably could’ve had a longer conversation about it, but she had to prepare for her role as choir member.

Awesome!
-Out of the Wilderness

Jesus saved a bunch of animals, too

I’ve had a recurring thought over the past few years and it makes me love the story of Jesus even more. One, because everything I learn about him or experience with him usually makes my heart skip a beat. He really was a hero. Two, I love animals.

So most people reading this will know at the heart of Christianity is Jesus’ death saving mankind from our sins. He died, now we live (spiritually, eternally, etc). The thought that keeps coming back to me is this: when Jesus died, the need for an animal sacrifice was Jesus_Lamb3aeliminated because his death became the payment due. Animal sacrifices were no longer needed. Of course, not everyone back then believed Jesus’ message, so I’m sure sacrifices continued, but for a whole lot of animals then and from then on, they get to live. Sheep were like, “Baaaaaaaa!!” Rams were like, “Woooooonkkk!!!!” Doves were like, “Someday I hope you get the chance, to live like you were dyyyiiinn’!”

But seriously, in a more literal way than Jesus’ death bringing life to humans, in fact, in a very literal way, his death meant life for so many of God’s creatures. Right there on the spot. That day.

I think that’s pretty cool! I also came across this blog post that gets into the details of Jewish sacrificial history, and it’s an interesting read. Take a look when you get a chance!

-Out of the Wilderness

Tax time: A poem.

April is coming, that’s tax time.
So I recently sat down to finish mine.

Sure, I’ll give “the man” what’s due.
We all should, including you.

My computer fired up, my spirits spiraled down.
“I owe how much?” I asked with a frown!

Sad trombone is what I think I heard.
Why do they want so much of what I earned?

To fix the roads. To fix healthcare.
OK, OK, you got me there.

I filled out the lines, line after line,
Then I felt a tickle, and not the good kind.

I began to sweat and feel hot.
I knew right away what it was and was not.

It wasn’t nerves, nor temperature or gas.
Ol’ man winter was here to kick my …butt.

I haven’t had a cold in many moons
But now I guess my time was due.

Day one seemed to last forever
with a throat like new sandpaper.

Day two was a lot like day one
but add in a fever, lots of fun!

Today is day three, a cough and some sniffles.
That tickle never lead to any giggles.

Yet it’s funny that taxes made me sick.
“Wait,” you say, “not so quick!”

I know, I know, I probably shouldn’t blame taxes
But that’s the story I’ll be telling to the masses.

-Out of the Wilderness

PS. I actually do have some gas.

Jain in Nashville, Tennessee

This will most likely go down as my biggest regret of 2017… Jain played in Nashville last night and I wasn’t there! Very disappointed. I’ll admit I don’t know much about her as an artist/person yet but I really like her music, her stage presence, her charisma.

Instead of staring for an uncomfortable amount of time at Jain on stage, I was in my car delivering packages to my lovely neighbors in Nashville. That’s right, I drive for Amazon Prime Now. So as luck would have it, Lightning 100 broadcasted Jain’s concert live on-air. Major silver lining there. I listened to what I could of her set and it was awesome! I already knew I liked her song “Come,” but now I’ve found a list of others that I like. You need to delight yourself by taking 15 minutes to listen to and watch the following, in this order:

1. “Come”

2. “Makeba” (the editor in me thinks this video is incredible with the effects, timing, and choices of how they put it together. “Come” is a lot like this one, too.)

3. “Hope” (tops the list of my favorite songs at the moment, and in this video you’ll get to see her free and charismatic style.)

Regretful in Nashville,
Out of the Wilderness