JosephBurke.com

Joe & Alex – Blessed and Lovin’ It

// February 1st, 2010 // No Comments » // Joe's Blog

A collage of photos showing how much Alex and I are truly in love. Special thanks to Oneday Photography of Orlando, FL for the photo shoot. The song used in the background is Phillips, Craig & Dean – Revelation Song.

Layers and Conditions

// January 31st, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Joe's Blog

The human experience is something endured by everyone individual on the face of this blue and green planet we call Earth. Each condition we face in our daily lives appear to come out of nowhere, or we have been battling the issue for a long time. Conditions come in many forms, and test our ability to perform as a person in society, and more importantly strengthen our walk with higher power. Some face health issues, others face a lifetime of battling financial debt, while others are traumatized by the lingering after effects of a scared childhood. Whatever your condition is, facing it can be the most challenging aspect of your life.

To confront your conditions face to face isn’t easy, and it requires help and a little faith from God. You can’t do it alone, which is why it’s important to pray within your heart and search out the true you. We all live our lives clouded in the mystique of persona’s worn at our work place or social groups we belong to. Taking off the mask not only clear the smoke about who you really are as a person, but it sets you aside from everyone else, thus finding your own closure to life and it’s conditions. If you think about it, conditions can be associated with with old metaphor of an onion and it’s layers, “Peeling back each layer one at time to reveal the true core.” As cliche as this sounds, it’s probably the most accurate way to describe the human condition.

Don’t cloud conditions with material goods or “stuff.” Personal possessions is not implications of conditions or results of your personal well being. Conditions are the protocols God sets in place for us to face as humans, the trials of life if you will. Whether you believe in God or any higher power for that matter, conditions in your life are still there, waiting for you to face, and gnawing at you day by day. Until you tackle the conditions that torment you, you can never fully gain true peace and happiness.

I have come to accept my conditions, and even though I may have no immediate resolve to the issues that keep me up at night, I believe God will comfort me in my time of great need and despair. It’s hard for me as a human to humble myself to a level where I as a mortal have to examine my own life, peeling each aspect of it away layer by layer until I found out really what is keeping me up at night. But I rejoice in the fact that I can share the good news that I have faced my demons, I have accepted my conditions and I have gotten to the core of what burdens my heart day by day. I rejoice in knowing that I no longer cloud the moment of despair with my own self righteousness, but I rather become meek and develop a zeal to life, and each day the wonderful blessings it brings me. The gift of life isn’t a condition, it’s God’s miracle. The gift of love isn’t a condition it’s God’s Spirit bearing witness between us or our companion.

Peel back your layers, examine your conditions, shed some tears like I did this morning and you’ll then you’ll see the light that shines so brightly on the horizon ahead. Rejoice, Rejoice REJOICE!

Tonight Belongs to…

// January 28th, 2010 // No Comments » // Joe's Blog

I have never reviewed a true Broadway show before, but I was so inspired tonight after seeing the performance of Phantom at the Bob Carr Center in downtown Orlando, FL that I just had to give it a go. Bob Carr is a small stage compared to other stages I’ve been to, but the seating capacity at just around 2,500 isn’t small either. After seeing the movie and bits and pieces of the footage from the NYC Production of Phantom, I was amazed at how much the staff, and stagehands fit onto the smaller 36ft. stage area. Amazingly, it was pulled off without a single glitch, and the rigs, lighting, effects, dioramas and props all fit perfectly on the stage. But, then again, the original stage in NYC, The Majestic, is only 37ft in depth, so there really isn’t that much of a difference.

For me, having never seen Phantom in full production was a little humbling. I’ve heard so much about this production in the tabloids, but one never thought I’d have the blessed chance to go see it one day. And we had prime seating in row HH, which is only 8 rows back from the main Orchestra area. The show production quality was very sophisticated and elaborate set designs that made the audience sink into the realm of the Phantom. With the towering golden angelic statues that dawned the sides of the stage to the centerpiece of the magnificent chandelier, the opening moments of Phantom was a bit of “WOW” moment. As the chandelier rose above the audience and the stage is revealed, everyone is captivated to center stage.

The vocals, acting and even technical engineering of this production was superb. There wasn’t a single blip, falter or issue with the sound, tech or lighting. Again, hats off to the amazing crew of Phantom and the “Florida Theatrical Association” for bringing such great productions on the road to Orlando. The actors were brilliant, and portrayed their roles with the up-most sincerity, and I felt captivated the entire production. I didn’t feel like I was in the theater for a little over two hours. I found myself fully absorbed in the world of Phantom, and frankly, that’s the way it should be. If you live in the Orlando area, and are curious about this show, please do yourself a favor now and order your tickets. It’s well worth it, and you’ll be as mesmerized as I was, I guarantee it. Keep in mind, opera and theater is not for everyone, but anyone who appreciates talent and entertainment will thoroughly enjoy this Orlando production.

Truly, this night, belonged to Phantom…

Expedition to Expedition Everest

// January 22nd, 2010 // No Comments » // Joe's Blog

Just me and my gal Alexandra on a day trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando, FL. Hope you like our ride footage of Expedition Everest.

BounceRadio.net “Editor’s Pick” in Rock

// January 20th, 2010 // No Comments » // Joe's Blog

Amazing news just announced from headquarters at BounceRadio.net. BounceRadio.net is now in the top 4 “Editor’s Pick” on Windows Media Guide for Internet Radio Stations. This is a most honorable achievement for all of BounceRadio.net’s on-air personalities and staff. Amazing job, and a fantastic start to 2010 for BounceRadio.net!