Spent the morning with my friend Jeff who is planting a Vineyard church in Columbus. Maybe the most refreshing three hours I've experienced so far this year. We're gonna try to make it a monthly meeting.
25.1.06
24.1.06
Sam's first sentence.
Well, yesterday Sam was sitting on Mommy's lap in front of the computer, when a picture popped up on the screen. Sam pointed and said his first sentence.
"Look! That Daddy !"
To see the image that prompted this eloquent exclamation, click the title link.
"Look! That Daddy !"
To see the image that prompted this eloquent exclamation, click the title link.
23.1.06
That's my King.
Most of you have probably heard this, before. I can't get over it. Maybe one of the most moving pieces of audio I have ever heard.
21.1.06
Jesus & the Indie Rock Scene: Read This Article
"Almost no strain of music is as secular as indie rock: It's quaint when old men on 78s sing spirituals, and a rugged legend like Johnny Cash can pray however he wants, but if you're a scrawny songwriter with a 4-track, siding with Jesus makes you a leper"
20.1.06
Evie's Tears by Freedy Johnston
Can you tell what this song is about?
Evie's Tears
In the middle of her confession
He comes over and holds her hand
I wake up, she is crying
I guess he was here again
Chorus:
Evie's tears are never going to dry
Evie's secret tears burn this bed she comes to
only when it's light
We met in a lonely summer
Two survivors of paradise
She ran up when I first touched her
Now she wakes me every night
Chorus
Faithless girl
You've been dreaming
Staring up your face is what we fear
OK, now I'm listening
You're not mine and he's not here
Now I'm listening
You're not mine and he's not here
In the middle of Evie's garden
In a simple iron chair
Wind's blowing and she is singing
Begs the moon to disappear
Catholic girl
You've been dreaming
Staring up your face is what we fear
Ok, now I'm listening
You're not mine and he's not here
Then later in the album, Johnston returns to Evie's story with this song (note the similarity of the first lines):
Evie's Garden
In the middle of Evie's garden
Was a rock she could never move
Worn away by a faithful handtill
No one knows the date
Chorus:
Bring back the rain
We'll go walking
Bring back the wind
Like you do
Of the flowers in Evie's garden
One would never go out of bloom
Planted over a well forgotten
Opened by the moon.
Chorus
Bring back the rain
To Evie's garden
I'm at the gate
Looking through
In the middle of Evie's garden
Was a rock she could never move
Nearly buried in a night bloom tango
Pale and smooth as skin
Evie's Tears
In the middle of her confession
He comes over and holds her hand
I wake up, she is crying
I guess he was here again
Chorus:
Evie's tears are never going to dry
Evie's secret tears burn this bed she comes to
only when it's light
We met in a lonely summer
Two survivors of paradise
She ran up when I first touched her
Now she wakes me every night
Chorus
Faithless girl
You've been dreaming
Staring up your face is what we fear
OK, now I'm listening
You're not mine and he's not here
Now I'm listening
You're not mine and he's not here
In the middle of Evie's garden
In a simple iron chair
Wind's blowing and she is singing
Begs the moon to disappear
Catholic girl
You've been dreaming
Staring up your face is what we fear
Ok, now I'm listening
You're not mine and he's not here
Then later in the album, Johnston returns to Evie's story with this song (note the similarity of the first lines):
Evie's Garden
In the middle of Evie's garden
Was a rock she could never move
Worn away by a faithful handtill
No one knows the date
Chorus:
Bring back the rain
We'll go walking
Bring back the wind
Like you do
Of the flowers in Evie's garden
One would never go out of bloom
Planted over a well forgotten
Opened by the moon.
Chorus
Bring back the rain
To Evie's garden
I'm at the gate
Looking through
In the middle of Evie's garden
Was a rock she could never move
Nearly buried in a night bloom tango
Pale and smooth as skin
Forthcoming Reviews and A Musical Exorcism
I promise reviews of Velvet Elvis and The Book of Daniel are coming soon! They are already in the works and partially written, saved as drafts in the mysterious electronic catacombs of the FP blog. It takes more time to put things like that together than to just spew some random thoughts on music or family or whatever. And time has not been in abundence as I've been working somewhere in the neighborhood of 65-70 hours a week since the new year. I seem to be most content when busy- or maybe it's because when a pastor is busy it is usally because he is spending lots of time with people- and being with people (especially "my peeps") makes me happy. So.. happy, busy, reviews on the way. And Freedy Johnston on the ipod...
"You always tell me I'm just one more thing to break..." -Freedy Johnston from One More Thing to Break, album: Never Home
Perhaps I'll throw a review of an old Freedy Johnston record in there just for good measure. What?! You don't know Freedy Johnston?! Rectify that immediately. Click on the link above and be healed!
(metaphorical) DEMONS (of unfortunate underexposure to underrated songwriter) COME OUT!
"You always tell me I'm just one more thing to break..." -Freedy Johnston from One More Thing to Break, album: Never Home
Perhaps I'll throw a review of an old Freedy Johnston record in there just for good measure. What?! You don't know Freedy Johnston?! Rectify that immediately. Click on the link above and be healed!
(metaphorical) DEMONS (of unfortunate underexposure to underrated songwriter) COME OUT!
19.1.06
Questions asked by a six year old presbyterian:
Takes a bite of peanut butter sandwich.
Chews slowly.
Contemplative expression.
Swallows.
"Daddy, what's the last number?"
Chews slowly.
Contemplative expression.
Swallows.
"Daddy, what's the last number?"
18.1.06
Listening: Steve Earle
If Chuck Norris did a roundhouse kick in righteous anger at the exact moment that Johnny Cash was smashing his guitar in indignant outrage and the two forces collided, the resulting cosmic blast of bitter, bearded, brokenhearted manhood, would spontaneously generate Steve Earle and the three albums he wrote, recorded and produced between the years of 1995 and 1997.
Earle dropped out of school at the age of fourteen and hit the road. By the age of 40 he had been married six times to five different women. He once helped a friend beat his alcohol addiction by tying him to a tree.
After experiencing some moderate success in the country music industry, Earle moved to the bad side of Nashville where he listened to Dr. Dre's the Chronic and dealt drugs for a few years, mostly homeless. Eventually he did find a nea home along with an orange jumpsuit with numbers on the back.
The liner notes of the album he recorded after his reales from prison say this: "When I was locked up I was getting ready to go off on this boy that stole my radio. My partner Paul asked me where I was going. I said "to get my radio-and then go to the hole for a little while". He looked at me like I look at my 13 year old son sometimes and said "No you aint'. You're gonna sit your little white ass down and do your little time and then you;re gonna get out of here and make me a nice record". So, I made two.
Here are some Lyrics: Now he's standin' at hell's door
With a bad attitude and a forty-four
The devil said, "What's up man
Now what you come here for?"
He said, "Man, let's just get to it"
He said, "I always heard that you were the bad one
There's a few places I ain't been, a few things I ain't done
You got your pitchfork and I got my gun"
Someone's gotta do it
If you never purchase and listen to a Steve Earle album in your life, he will probably not find out about it and come to your house to knock your teeth out with a wrench. But you should probably familiarize yourself with his music just to be safe.
Earle dropped out of school at the age of fourteen and hit the road. By the age of 40 he had been married six times to five different women. He once helped a friend beat his alcohol addiction by tying him to a tree.
After experiencing some moderate success in the country music industry, Earle moved to the bad side of Nashville where he listened to Dr. Dre's the Chronic and dealt drugs for a few years, mostly homeless. Eventually he did find a nea home along with an orange jumpsuit with numbers on the back.
The liner notes of the album he recorded after his reales from prison say this: "When I was locked up I was getting ready to go off on this boy that stole my radio. My partner Paul asked me where I was going. I said "to get my radio-and then go to the hole for a little while". He looked at me like I look at my 13 year old son sometimes and said "No you aint'. You're gonna sit your little white ass down and do your little time and then you;re gonna get out of here and make me a nice record". So, I made two.
Here are some Lyrics: Now he's standin' at hell's door
With a bad attitude and a forty-four
The devil said, "What's up man
Now what you come here for?"
He said, "Man, let's just get to it"
He said, "I always heard that you were the bad one
There's a few places I ain't been, a few things I ain't done
You got your pitchfork and I got my gun"
Someone's gotta do it
If you never purchase and listen to a Steve Earle album in your life, he will probably not find out about it and come to your house to knock your teeth out with a wrench. But you should probably familiarize yourself with his music just to be safe.
the answer to everything
No one goes to the Grand Canyon to increase self-esteem. Why do we go? Because there is a greater healing for the soul in beholding splendor than there is in beholding self... The point is this: We were made to know and treasure the glory of God above all things; and when we trade that treasure for images, everything is disordered. The sun of God's glory was made to shine at the center of the solar system of our soul. And when it does, all the planets of our life are held in their proper orbit. But when the sun is displaced, everything flies apart. The healing of the soul begins by restoring the glory of God to its flaming, all-attracting place at the center. - John Piper
17.1.06
16.1.06
this band no longer exists.
But through the mystery of binary code, you can still enjoy the songs they made. I know it's just zeros and ones, but the way they put them together sure is cool.
This track is a B-side from the coast is always clear.
This track is a B-side from the coast is always clear.
14.1.06
13.1.06
Eels to release live cd & dvd with string section.
Listen here to a an interview with E concerning the writing and recording of Eels latest album Blinking Lights and Other Revelations
Morning Dose
A New Law by Derek Webb
(vs. 1)
don’t teach me about politics and government
just tell me who to vote for
don’t teach me about truth and beauty
just label my music
don’t teach me how to live like a free man
just give me a new law
(pre-chorus)
i don’t wanna know if the answers aren’t easy
so just bring it down from the mountain to me
(chorus)
i want a new law
i want a new law
gimme that new law
(vs. 2)
don’t teach me about moderation and liberty
i prefer a shot of grape juice
don’t teach me about loving my enemies
don’t teach me how to listen to the Spirit
just give me a new law
(pre-chorus/chorus)
(bridge)
what’s the use in trading a law you can never keep
for one you can that cannot get you anything
do not be afraid
do not be afraid
do not be afraid
(vs. 1)
don’t teach me about politics and government
just tell me who to vote for
don’t teach me about truth and beauty
just label my music
don’t teach me how to live like a free man
just give me a new law
(pre-chorus)
i don’t wanna know if the answers aren’t easy
so just bring it down from the mountain to me
(chorus)
i want a new law
i want a new law
gimme that new law
(vs. 2)
don’t teach me about moderation and liberty
i prefer a shot of grape juice
don’t teach me about loving my enemies
don’t teach me how to listen to the Spirit
just give me a new law
(pre-chorus/chorus)
(bridge)
what’s the use in trading a law you can never keep
for one you can that cannot get you anything
do not be afraid
do not be afraid
do not be afraid
12.1.06
11.1.06
Down the hatch.
Reputation by Derek Webb
i know i always let everybody down
i know i've got a bad name in this town
'cause my last friend stopped calling months ago
i know i always make you wait around
i know the way my promises must sound
and even though you've heard it all before
darlin' could you listen just once more
i've got a reputation with everyone
but i don't want one with you
i know you know me well enough by now
and you're loving me as well as you know how
but i need one more chance to let you down
'cause no one else will give it to me now
i've got a reputation with everyone
but i don't want one with you
i know you know me well enough by now
and you're loving me as well as you know how
but i need one more chance to let you down
'cause no one else will give it to me now
with you, i'm so glad to get into a bad situation
'cause nothing makes us close, nothing like a little incarceration
i've got a reputation with everyone
but i don't want one with you
i know you know me well enough by now
and you're loving me as well as you know how
but i need one more chance to let you down
'cause no one else will give it to me now...
i know i always let everybody down
i know i've got a bad name in this town
'cause my last friend stopped calling months ago
i know i always make you wait around
i know the way my promises must sound
and even though you've heard it all before
darlin' could you listen just once more
i've got a reputation with everyone
but i don't want one with you
i know you know me well enough by now
and you're loving me as well as you know how
but i need one more chance to let you down
'cause no one else will give it to me now
i've got a reputation with everyone
but i don't want one with you
i know you know me well enough by now
and you're loving me as well as you know how
but i need one more chance to let you down
'cause no one else will give it to me now
with you, i'm so glad to get into a bad situation
'cause nothing makes us close, nothing like a little incarceration
i've got a reputation with everyone
but i don't want one with you
i know you know me well enough by now
and you're loving me as well as you know how
but i need one more chance to let you down
'cause no one else will give it to me now...
Nic Armstrong
You can't find a decent music video on MTV or VH1 to save your life these days. But FP is hooking you up.
Ohio boy does it up right.
Why is Tim Easton not famous yet? It is perplexing to me. He's got the complete package. Stellar musician (as evidenced by his guitar work on this live recording), a perfectly raspy voice, and lyrics far more intereting and substantive than most of the stuff out there these days. I just don't get it.
Easton's music was introduced to me by my friend Nand. Easton himself was introduced to me by me. He use to drink coffee everyday at the coffee shope where I did a lot of my work back in the olden days before the church had office space. He's from Columbus and spends a few months here every once in a while. If you get a change to catch him live, you'll be glad you did.
Check the link for a live track from a show in Brussels of all places!
Easton's music was introduced to me by my friend Nand. Easton himself was introduced to me by me. He use to drink coffee everyday at the coffee shope where I did a lot of my work back in the olden days before the church had office space. He's from Columbus and spends a few months here every once in a while. If you get a change to catch him live, you'll be glad you did.
Check the link for a live track from a show in Brussels of all places!
10.1.06
Listening to: Joseph Arthur
You've been loved
You don't know how you feel
Are you a dream?
Are you for real?
Cause you don't ever slow down
To find what you lost or lose what you found
No one's saying what you need to hear
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
It's always hard to admit
Most days you feel like you don't exist
Temptation sneaks past your fists
Until the devil won't let you resist
Oblivion is what you want
But you've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
What you're gonna do with your life?
What you're gonna do with your life?
What you're gonna do with your life?
What you're gonna do with your life?
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
You don't know how you feel
Are you a dream?
Are you for real?
Cause you don't ever slow down
To find what you lost or lose what you found
No one's saying what you need to hear
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
It's always hard to admit
Most days you feel like you don't exist
Temptation sneaks past your fists
Until the devil won't let you resist
Oblivion is what you want
But you've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
What you're gonna do with your life?
What you're gonna do with your life?
What you're gonna do with your life?
What you're gonna do with your life?
You've been loved
You've been loved
You've been loved
This is my only comfort in life and in death
That I am not my own
but belong body and soul in life and death
to my faithful savior Jesus Christ.
He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood
and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.
He also watches over me in such a way
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in Heaven.
In fact, all things must work together for my salvation.
Because I belong to him,
Christ by his Holy Sprit, assures me of eternal life
and makes me whole heartedly willing and ready
from now on, to live for him.
but belong body and soul in life and death
to my faithful savior Jesus Christ.
He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood
and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.
He also watches over me in such a way
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in Heaven.
In fact, all things must work together for my salvation.
Because I belong to him,
Christ by his Holy Sprit, assures me of eternal life
and makes me whole heartedly willing and ready
from now on, to live for him.
I'd Want To Be A Polar Bear
Ok. So I've been thinking about it now for a long time and I think I've finally come to a conlcusion. If I had to be an animal I would choose to be a polar bear. Now here's my reasoning: First, if you're going to be an animal, you'd generally like to be a real mean kick-butt kind of animal at the top of the food chain in your habitat, right? Now sharks certainly qualify, so for a while I thought I should be a shark. Sharks don't worry about ANYTHING. They just cruise around with that evil frown on their face looking for something to chomp. To a shark, everyone is lunch. After consideration, however, it seemed to me that sharks aren't really enjoying themselves. Terrorizing the open seas must be hard work. It just doesn't seem like much fun. When it comes to fun, there's always monkeys. But monkeys stink. And throw poop. I think with monkeys it's not so much that they are fun as it is that they are all insane. I don't want that. Plus, chics don't dig guys who throw thier own poop. So then I thought, I got it! The sea otter! Sea otters have fun. THey don't throw poop as far as I'm aware. They've got that cuteness factor for the ladies. Oh... but sea otters don't inspire awe and fear into thier natural enemies. That's when it occurred to me. Polar Bears. They're always slip sliding around in the snow. They've got the cute and cuddly factor working for them on account of thier smiley faces and bright white fur. But they also will eat anybody. They're bad bad carnivores. So that's my pick. Polar Bears. What's yours?
We Shall Over Comb!
There is a fine line between vigilance and denial. This man has crossed that line.
I've Moved These Comments Up Here Into A Post For You, In Case You Missed It
anon said...
as a very devoted sufjan fan, i was aware of him being mildly christian, but would argue that if you put the lyrics of any song from illinoise up against thos of your derek webb, you wouldn't find any of the overt imagery or blatant references to christ with sufjan. Also, he made an entire album of songs relating to the zodiac.
After more thought about the subject, I've begun to think that it's more a question of subject matter. I subscribe to the "high fidelity" school of pop music - namely that 98% of good songs are about heartbreak, rejection, or loss. And i think as a fairly dejected, quarter-life crisis sufferer, i appreciate those themes in music, and have come to accept them. Christian music, on the other hand, is far too uplifting for me. Like most of america, i don't want to be cheered up, i want to see the dregs of existence. This is why so much of our entertainment centers on sex, violence, crime, heartbreak, etc. Even the passion of the christ had to have an uber violent crucifixition scene. It's just what the people want from entertainment. We save being saved for sundays only ;)
______________________________________
Sunday, 08 January, 2006
Greg said...
anon,
Thanks so much for your comments. I appreciate and relate to your sentiments. I wonder if perhaps your understanding of what Christianity is about is not a bit off. One of the great heartaches (and frustrations!) of my life is the widespread misapprehension of the essence of Christianity.
You talk about "sex, violence, crime, heartbreak", "rejection and loss", "the dregs of existence" as if those are aspects of life outside of or foreign to Christianity. No doubt many Christians and churches are guilty of giving that impression. But in my experience (and in the understanding of the great bulk of Christians who've practiced our faith in diverse regions and times for two thousand plus years) Christianity and the life of the Christian is all about those things.
Sex, violence, crime, heartbreak, rejection, loss... man, you just described 50% of my experience living life as a Christian. In addition there is passion, drama, love, mercy, grace, mystery and longing. Not only in our lives, but the Grand Story, the Redemptive Drama that gives shape to our faith. (I still maintain that the dirtiest book sold in any Christian bookstore is the Bible).
I think a part of what is unsatisfying about the music being produced by the "Christian" music industry is that not much of it respects the complexity of life as a Christian who, while experiencing redemption (being "saved") is doing so in a world and a life that is both beautiful and broken. The problem is that the Christian music iNdustry in general, produces art from the perspective that "being saved" is just for Sunday. This allows no room for the "Christian" expression of joy in the beauty of the world or the expression of sorrow, grief and indignance over the brokenness of the world. What is left is a white bread, sugary-sweet, watered down, pseudo-religious, kum-bah-ya kind of Christianity that has been so neutered and nullified that it no longer looks anything like the "Christ" we are named for.
Any attempt (by Christians or non-Christians) to compartmentalize our lives in such a way that confines Christ to one "sunday" segment or slice of the pie, will always produce an experience and understanding of Christianity that is distorted, unattractive and ultimately unfulfilling.
If you are in the central Ohio area, I'd love it if you could visit our church and hang out with us sometime. We are attempting to forge lives wholly forged by Christ and his message. In this view, the sex, violence, crime, heartbreak, rejection and loss all have their place. As does, passion, truth, beauty, brokenness, mystery, grace and love.
Here's to seeing the big picture.
Peace.
_____________________________________________________
Monday, 09 January, 2006
Greg said...
BTW, Seven Swans is an album all about the transfiguration of Christ.
_____________________________________________________
Monday, 09 January, 2006
anon said...
If you only know one or two things about Sufjan Stevens, chances are the second is that he is a practising Christian who isn't afraid to let his beliefs impact upon his work. "If someone asked, I would say that I was born again. I would look you right in the eye and say it."
"I don't know anything about CCM. I'm not an evangelist. I'm a songwriter and a storyteller. If that story happens to be about Christ, then perhaps, in some odd semantic way, the song could be termed 'evangelical'. I gladly accept that. I also sing about divorce. And murder. And adultery. I sing about chickens and war and bathrooms. In my mind, the gospel is not something to pander and pawn off like a diet soda drink. There is no product. There is no selling point."
"This is what it means to be born again: to fully and completely disengage with the preconceptions and preoccupations of the adult world and its religions, to dismantle all laws - of physics and society - and yield yourself to the birth canal, and what comes after, in which everything begins to shake and tremble with all senses fully turned to the centre of the universe, the creator, God the Father, in whose cultivation we begin to know and understand our true selves, our real selves, as a reflection of God's image, his creation, like newborn babies, full, fresh, suckling, elated and laughing at everything. But honestly, I have no idea how this relates to my music. I hate talking about this stuff."
"I'd like to spend less time talking about God and more time being in God's presence. I think that would put an end to this conversation, once and for all."
___________________________________________
Monday, 09 January, 2006
anon said...
that's my kind of christian
as a very devoted sufjan fan, i was aware of him being mildly christian, but would argue that if you put the lyrics of any song from illinoise up against thos of your derek webb, you wouldn't find any of the overt imagery or blatant references to christ with sufjan. Also, he made an entire album of songs relating to the zodiac.
After more thought about the subject, I've begun to think that it's more a question of subject matter. I subscribe to the "high fidelity" school of pop music - namely that 98% of good songs are about heartbreak, rejection, or loss. And i think as a fairly dejected, quarter-life crisis sufferer, i appreciate those themes in music, and have come to accept them. Christian music, on the other hand, is far too uplifting for me. Like most of america, i don't want to be cheered up, i want to see the dregs of existence. This is why so much of our entertainment centers on sex, violence, crime, heartbreak, etc. Even the passion of the christ had to have an uber violent crucifixition scene. It's just what the people want from entertainment. We save being saved for sundays only ;)
______________________________________
Sunday, 08 January, 2006
Greg said...
anon,
Thanks so much for your comments. I appreciate and relate to your sentiments. I wonder if perhaps your understanding of what Christianity is about is not a bit off. One of the great heartaches (and frustrations!) of my life is the widespread misapprehension of the essence of Christianity.
You talk about "sex, violence, crime, heartbreak", "rejection and loss", "the dregs of existence" as if those are aspects of life outside of or foreign to Christianity. No doubt many Christians and churches are guilty of giving that impression. But in my experience (and in the understanding of the great bulk of Christians who've practiced our faith in diverse regions and times for two thousand plus years) Christianity and the life of the Christian is all about those things.
Sex, violence, crime, heartbreak, rejection, loss... man, you just described 50% of my experience living life as a Christian. In addition there is passion, drama, love, mercy, grace, mystery and longing. Not only in our lives, but the Grand Story, the Redemptive Drama that gives shape to our faith. (I still maintain that the dirtiest book sold in any Christian bookstore is the Bible).
I think a part of what is unsatisfying about the music being produced by the "Christian" music industry is that not much of it respects the complexity of life as a Christian who, while experiencing redemption (being "saved") is doing so in a world and a life that is both beautiful and broken. The problem is that the Christian music iNdustry in general, produces art from the perspective that "being saved" is just for Sunday. This allows no room for the "Christian" expression of joy in the beauty of the world or the expression of sorrow, grief and indignance over the brokenness of the world. What is left is a white bread, sugary-sweet, watered down, pseudo-religious, kum-bah-ya kind of Christianity that has been so neutered and nullified that it no longer looks anything like the "Christ" we are named for.
Any attempt (by Christians or non-Christians) to compartmentalize our lives in such a way that confines Christ to one "sunday" segment or slice of the pie, will always produce an experience and understanding of Christianity that is distorted, unattractive and ultimately unfulfilling.
If you are in the central Ohio area, I'd love it if you could visit our church and hang out with us sometime. We are attempting to forge lives wholly forged by Christ and his message. In this view, the sex, violence, crime, heartbreak, rejection and loss all have their place. As does, passion, truth, beauty, brokenness, mystery, grace and love.
Here's to seeing the big picture.
Peace.
_____________________________________________________
Monday, 09 January, 2006
Greg said...
BTW, Seven Swans is an album all about the transfiguration of Christ.
_____________________________________________________
Monday, 09 January, 2006
anon said...
If you only know one or two things about Sufjan Stevens, chances are the second is that he is a practising Christian who isn't afraid to let his beliefs impact upon his work. "If someone asked, I would say that I was born again. I would look you right in the eye and say it."
"I don't know anything about CCM. I'm not an evangelist. I'm a songwriter and a storyteller. If that story happens to be about Christ, then perhaps, in some odd semantic way, the song could be termed 'evangelical'. I gladly accept that. I also sing about divorce. And murder. And adultery. I sing about chickens and war and bathrooms. In my mind, the gospel is not something to pander and pawn off like a diet soda drink. There is no product. There is no selling point."
"This is what it means to be born again: to fully and completely disengage with the preconceptions and preoccupations of the adult world and its religions, to dismantle all laws - of physics and society - and yield yourself to the birth canal, and what comes after, in which everything begins to shake and tremble with all senses fully turned to the centre of the universe, the creator, God the Father, in whose cultivation we begin to know and understand our true selves, our real selves, as a reflection of God's image, his creation, like newborn babies, full, fresh, suckling, elated and laughing at everything. But honestly, I have no idea how this relates to my music. I hate talking about this stuff."
"I'd like to spend less time talking about God and more time being in God's presence. I think that would put an end to this conversation, once and for all."
___________________________________________
Monday, 09 January, 2006
anon said...
that's my kind of christian
Christians & Fiction
Why does Christian fiction (like Christian music) suck? Here is an article which sheds light on the issue. Some good world view issues here.
9.1.06
2: Lyrics That Demonstrate A Belief System that Respects the Complexity of Life as a Jesus-Follower in a World Which is Both Beautiful and Broken
Go Down Easy (by Over the Rhine)
words and music: Bergquist and Detweiler
recording: Good Dog Bad Dog
Go down easy babe.
Go down slow.
Take all the time you need.
We've no place else to go.
Gonna put on my favorite dress.
Put my hair up too.
Take me North, South, East or West.
I guess I'll leave it up to you.
You threw a noose around my shadow.
Got me into all this mess.
I would have dove in head first anyway
for less, for a whole lot less.
Go down easy babe.
Go down slow.
Take all the time you need.
We've no place else to go.
Say farewell to the confines of my own back yard.
Weeds growin' 'round the flowers.
Sometimes the only way to break the curse
is to leave it all behind.
Find the slow curve of a back road,
one hand on the wheel.
Drive till I remember how it feels.
So this is how it feels. Oh.
Go down easy babe.
Go down slow.
If there's anything better than this
I'd like to know.
words and music: Bergquist and Detweiler
recording: Good Dog Bad Dog
Go down easy babe.
Go down slow.
Take all the time you need.
We've no place else to go.
Gonna put on my favorite dress.
Put my hair up too.
Take me North, South, East or West.
I guess I'll leave it up to you.
You threw a noose around my shadow.
Got me into all this mess.
I would have dove in head first anyway
for less, for a whole lot less.
Go down easy babe.
Go down slow.
Take all the time you need.
We've no place else to go.
Say farewell to the confines of my own back yard.
Weeds growin' 'round the flowers.
Sometimes the only way to break the curse
is to leave it all behind.
Find the slow curve of a back road,
one hand on the wheel.
Drive till I remember how it feels.
So this is how it feels. Oh.
Go down easy babe.
Go down slow.
If there's anything better than this
I'd like to know.
Lyrics That Demonastrate A Belief System that Respects the Complexity of Life as a Jesus-Follower in a World Which is Both Beautiful and Broken
Casmir Pulaski Day, from the album "Illinoise", by Sufjan Stevens
Goldenrod and the 4H stone,
the things I brought you,
when I found out you had cancer of the bone
Your father cried on the telephone,
and he drove his car into the navy yard,
just to prove that he was sorry
In the morning, through the window shade,
when the light pressed up against your shoulderblade,
I could see what you were reading.
All the glory that the Lord has made,
and the complications you could do without,
when I kissed you on the mouth.
Tuesday night at the Bible study,
we lift our hands and pray over your body,
but nothing ever happens.
I remember at Michael's house,
in the living room when you kissed my neck,
and I almost touched your blouse.
In the morning at the top of the stairs,
when your father found out what we did that night,
and you told me you were scared.
All the glory when you ran outside,
with your shirt tucked in and your shoes untied,
and you told me not to follow you.
Sunday night when I cleaned the house,
I find the card where you wrote it out,
with the pictures of you mother.
On the floor at the great divide,
with my shirt tucked in and my shoes untied,
I am crying in the bathroom.
In the morning when you finally go,
and the nurse runs in with her head hung low,
and the cardinal hits the window.
In the morning in the winter shade,
on the 1st of March on the holiday,
I thought I saw you breathing.
All the glory that the Lord has made,
and the complications when I see His face,
in the morning in the window.
All the glory when he took our place,
but he took my shoulders and he shook my face,
and he takes and he takes and he takes.
Goldenrod and the 4H stone,
the things I brought you,
when I found out you had cancer of the bone
Your father cried on the telephone,
and he drove his car into the navy yard,
just to prove that he was sorry
In the morning, through the window shade,
when the light pressed up against your shoulderblade,
I could see what you were reading.
All the glory that the Lord has made,
and the complications you could do without,
when I kissed you on the mouth.
Tuesday night at the Bible study,
we lift our hands and pray over your body,
but nothing ever happens.
I remember at Michael's house,
in the living room when you kissed my neck,
and I almost touched your blouse.
In the morning at the top of the stairs,
when your father found out what we did that night,
and you told me you were scared.
All the glory when you ran outside,
with your shirt tucked in and your shoes untied,
and you told me not to follow you.
Sunday night when I cleaned the house,
I find the card where you wrote it out,
with the pictures of you mother.
On the floor at the great divide,
with my shirt tucked in and my shoes untied,
I am crying in the bathroom.
In the morning when you finally go,
and the nurse runs in with her head hung low,
and the cardinal hits the window.
In the morning in the winter shade,
on the 1st of March on the holiday,
I thought I saw you breathing.
All the glory that the Lord has made,
and the complications when I see His face,
in the morning in the window.
All the glory when he took our place,
but he took my shoulders and he shook my face,
and he takes and he takes and he takes.
8.1.06
quote
“In general, I hate Christian rock music. But now I have heard the songs of Derek Webb. Webb’s songs are free of the pietistic sentimentality that usually characterizes popular Christian music. His music, like the Gospel, is at once hard, edgy, and beautiful.”
—Stanley Hauerwas, author, educator, Duke Divinity School
—Stanley Hauerwas, author, educator, Duke Divinity School
Take Your Medicine, Again.
Cheer up all you harlots and whores. Here's another dose of medicine from the lyrics of Derek Webb. This song changed me. Hope it changes you, too.
The Church
i have come with one purpose
to capture for myself a bride
by my life she is lovely
by my death she’s justified
i have always been her husband
though many lovers she has known
so with water i will wash her
and by my word alone
so when you hear the sound of the water
you will know you’re not alone
(chorus)
‘cause i haven’t come for only you
but for my people to pursue
you cannot care for me with no regard for her
if you love me you will love the church
i have long pursued her
as a harlot and a whore
but she will feast upon me
she will drink and thirst no more
so when you taste my flesh and my blood
you will know you’re not alone
(chorus)
there is none that can replace her
though there are many who will try
and though some may be her bridesmaids
they can never be my bride
The Church
i have come with one purpose
to capture for myself a bride
by my life she is lovely
by my death she’s justified
i have always been her husband
though many lovers she has known
so with water i will wash her
and by my word alone
so when you hear the sound of the water
you will know you’re not alone
(chorus)
‘cause i haven’t come for only you
but for my people to pursue
you cannot care for me with no regard for her
if you love me you will love the church
i have long pursued her
as a harlot and a whore
but she will feast upon me
she will drink and thirst no more
so when you taste my flesh and my blood
you will know you’re not alone
(chorus)
there is none that can replace her
though there are many who will try
and though some may be her bridesmaids
they can never be my bride
7.1.06
6.1.06
End of the Year Lists
The following end of the year lists were found over at junkmailforblankets where a former seminary classmate of mine blogs.
Top Ten Wrestlers Who Never Wore the Belt of Truth in the Christian Wrestling Federation, Due, Possibly, to the Lack of Imprecation in their Chosen Wrestling Names
1. The Wounded Prophet
2. The Crippled Beggar
3. The Witch of Endor
4. The Angel of Life
5. The Passover Lamb
6. The Scarlet Cloth
7. The Circumcised
8. The Good Samaritan
9. The Kinsman Redeemer
10. Nard
Top Ten Least Successful Wrestling Moves Employed by the Above
1. The Flying Scroll
2. The Flow of Blood
3. The Mound of Wheat
4. The Resounding Gong
5. The Gentle Rebuke
6. The Love Feast
7. The Useless Vine
8. The Threshing Floor
9. The Slanderous Accusation
10. Forgiveness
Top Ten Best Names* for Christian Blues Musicians Among Christian Blues Musicians who Randomly Opened the Bible and Pointed When Choosing a Christian Blues Musician Name
1. Tent Peg
2. Dry Bones
3. Withered Fig
4. Pentecost
5. Raisin Cake
6. Sackcloth
7. Gethsemane
8. Wineskin
9. Rooster Crow
10. Almond Rod
(*To test, add Johnson to the end of each name)
Top Ten Wrestlers Who Never Wore the Belt of Truth in the Christian Wrestling Federation, Due, Possibly, to the Lack of Imprecation in their Chosen Wrestling Names
1. The Wounded Prophet
2. The Crippled Beggar
3. The Witch of Endor
4. The Angel of Life
5. The Passover Lamb
6. The Scarlet Cloth
7. The Circumcised
8. The Good Samaritan
9. The Kinsman Redeemer
10. Nard
Top Ten Least Successful Wrestling Moves Employed by the Above
1. The Flying Scroll
2. The Flow of Blood
3. The Mound of Wheat
4. The Resounding Gong
5. The Gentle Rebuke
6. The Love Feast
7. The Useless Vine
8. The Threshing Floor
9. The Slanderous Accusation
10. Forgiveness
Top Ten Best Names* for Christian Blues Musicians Among Christian Blues Musicians who Randomly Opened the Bible and Pointed When Choosing a Christian Blues Musician Name
1. Tent Peg
2. Dry Bones
3. Withered Fig
4. Pentecost
5. Raisin Cake
6. Sackcloth
7. Gethsemane
8. Wineskin
9. Rooster Crow
10. Almond Rod
(*To test, add Johnson to the end of each name)
The Following Are All They Are Cracked Up To Be:
Most things in life do not live up to the hype. Wether it is new technology, a new experience or a new stage in life, seldom does the reality measure up to the expectation. Once in a while however, something comes along that does measure up and even exceeds our hopes. Over the course of my life I've been keeping a running mental list of things that are all they are cracked up to be. As it stands so far with brief commentary, no particular order:
1. Drivers License: instant freedom and independance. At 16 I learned that a dork in a rusty $600 Mustang II trumps a non-dork on a bicycle.
2. College: more freedom and independance. Don't feel like going to school today? Fine. Go back to bed. Eat cereal in the shower. Who's gonna stop you? Beautiful.
3. I Pod: Come on. Every song you've ever owned in your pocket all the time? Don't pretend that's not awesome.
4. The Gospel: It just keeps getting deeper. And wider. And I'm not just saying this cause I'm suppose to.
5. Sex: awww yeah.
6. Fatherhood: As a father of two little boys I've created my own instant fan club. No matter how my day has gone, or what kind of mess I'm making out of my vocational life, when I walk in the house at the end of the day I am a rock star, a stand up comedian and the world's strongest man.
7. Hawaii: Way too commercialized and over-populated, but absolutely, jaw-droppingly beautiful. Photos do it no justice. Worth the trip just to stand on the beach and stare up at Diamondhead.
8. The Millenium Falcon: My parents bought it for me in 1984 when I had my tonsils removed. It was the coolest, ever. Han behind the controls, Chewie riding shot gun, and if you removed the batteries you could even cram Yoda into the battery compartment.
Let's hear it. What are yours?
1. Drivers License: instant freedom and independance. At 16 I learned that a dork in a rusty $600 Mustang II trumps a non-dork on a bicycle.
2. College: more freedom and independance. Don't feel like going to school today? Fine. Go back to bed. Eat cereal in the shower. Who's gonna stop you? Beautiful.
3. I Pod: Come on. Every song you've ever owned in your pocket all the time? Don't pretend that's not awesome.
4. The Gospel: It just keeps getting deeper. And wider. And I'm not just saying this cause I'm suppose to.
5. Sex: awww yeah.
6. Fatherhood: As a father of two little boys I've created my own instant fan club. No matter how my day has gone, or what kind of mess I'm making out of my vocational life, when I walk in the house at the end of the day I am a rock star, a stand up comedian and the world's strongest man.
7. Hawaii: Way too commercialized and over-populated, but absolutely, jaw-droppingly beautiful. Photos do it no justice. Worth the trip just to stand on the beach and stare up at Diamondhead.
8. The Millenium Falcon: My parents bought it for me in 1984 when I had my tonsils removed. It was the coolest, ever. Han behind the controls, Chewie riding shot gun, and if you removed the batteries you could even cram Yoda into the battery compartment.
Let's hear it. What are yours?
What is sleep paralysis?
Sleep paralysis consists of a period of inability to perform voluntary movements either at sleep onset (called hypnogogic or predormital form) or upon awakening (called hypnopompic or postdormtal form).
Sleep paralysis may also be referred to as isolated sleep paralysis, familial sleep paralysis, hynogogic or hypnopompic paralysis, predormital or postdormital paralysis
What are the symptoms?
A complaint of inability to move the trunk or limbs at sleep onset or upon awakening
Presence of brief episodes of partial or complete skeletal muscle paralysis
Episodes can be associated with hypnagogic hallucinations or dream-like mentation (act or use of the brain)
Polysomnography (a sleep recording) shows at least one of the following:
suppression of skeletal muscle tone
a sleep onset REM period
dissociated REM sleep
Is it harmful?
Sleep paralysis is most often associated with narcolepsy, a neurological condition in which the person has uncontrollable naps. However, there are many people who experience sleep paralysis without having signs of narcolepsy. Sometimes it runs in families. There is no known explanation why some people experience this paralysis. It is not harmful, although most people report feeling very afraid because they do not know what is happening, and within minutes they gradually or abruptly are able to move again; the episode is often terminated by a sound or a touch on the body.
In some cases, when hypnogogic hallucinations are present, people feel that someone is in the room with them, some experience the feeling that someone or something is sitting on their chest and they feel impending death and suffocation. That has been called the “Hag Phenomena” and has been happening to people over the centuries. These things cause people much anxiety and terror, but there is no physical harm.
Sleep paralysis consists of a period of inability to perform voluntary movements either at sleep onset (called hypnogogic or predormital form) or upon awakening (called hypnopompic or postdormtal form).
Sleep paralysis may also be referred to as isolated sleep paralysis, familial sleep paralysis, hynogogic or hypnopompic paralysis, predormital or postdormital paralysis
What are the symptoms?
A complaint of inability to move the trunk or limbs at sleep onset or upon awakening
Presence of brief episodes of partial or complete skeletal muscle paralysis
Episodes can be associated with hypnagogic hallucinations or dream-like mentation (act or use of the brain)
Polysomnography (a sleep recording) shows at least one of the following:
suppression of skeletal muscle tone
a sleep onset REM period
dissociated REM sleep
Is it harmful?
Sleep paralysis is most often associated with narcolepsy, a neurological condition in which the person has uncontrollable naps. However, there are many people who experience sleep paralysis without having signs of narcolepsy. Sometimes it runs in families. There is no known explanation why some people experience this paralysis. It is not harmful, although most people report feeling very afraid because they do not know what is happening, and within minutes they gradually or abruptly are able to move again; the episode is often terminated by a sound or a touch on the body.
In some cases, when hypnogogic hallucinations are present, people feel that someone is in the room with them, some experience the feeling that someone or something is sitting on their chest and they feel impending death and suffocation. That has been called the “Hag Phenomena” and has been happening to people over the centuries. These things cause people much anxiety and terror, but there is no physical harm.
Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder caused by the brain's inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles normally. At various times throughout the day, people with narcolepsy experience fleeting urges to sleep. If the urge becomes overwhelming, individuals will fall asleep for periods lasting from a few seconds to several minutes. In rare cases, some people may remain asleep for an hour or longer. In addition to excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), three other major symptoms frequently characterize narcolepsy: cataplexy, or the sudden loss of voluntary muscle tone; vivid hallucinations during sleep onset or upon awakening; and brief episodes of total paralysis at the beginning or end of sleep. Narcolepsy is not definitively diagnosed in most patients until 10 to 15 years after the first symptoms appear. The cause of narcolepsy remains unknown. It is likely that narcolepsy involves multiple factors interacting to cause neurological dysfunction and sleep disturbances however at this point, researches know only that the narc...
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Take Your Medicine
For the next several days, the FP prescribes a daily dose of Derek Webb lyrics. Here's your pill for today. Caution: May have serious side effects.
A King & A Kingdom
who's your brother, who's your sister
you just walked passed him
i think you missed her
as we're all migrating to the place where our father lives
'cause we married in to a family of immigrants
my first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man
my first allegiance is not to democracy or blood
it's to a king & a kingdom
there are two great lies that i’ve heard:
“the day you eat of the fruit of that tree, you will not surely die”
and that Jesus Christ was a white, middle-class republican
and if you wanna be saved you have to learn to be like Him
but nothing unifies like a common enemy
and we’ve got one, sure as hell
but he may be living in your house
he may be raising up your kids
he may be sleeping with your wife
oh no, he may not look like you think
A King & A Kingdom
who's your brother, who's your sister
you just walked passed him
i think you missed her
as we're all migrating to the place where our father lives
'cause we married in to a family of immigrants
my first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man
my first allegiance is not to democracy or blood
it's to a king & a kingdom
there are two great lies that i’ve heard:
“the day you eat of the fruit of that tree, you will not surely die”
and that Jesus Christ was a white, middle-class republican
and if you wanna be saved you have to learn to be like Him
but nothing unifies like a common enemy
and we’ve got one, sure as hell
but he may be living in your house
he may be raising up your kids
he may be sleeping with your wife
oh no, he may not look like you think
Indie Record Stores Fading Out
Back in college I use to go up to Looney T-Bird's every monday night at midnight for the new release party. It was a great weekly ritual. We'd peruse the used cd shelves, swing through the vinyl room and then, if we could find anything worth purchasing (and we always did) we'd wait in line (yes, a line at a record store at midnight on a monday) and we'd take our new find back to the apartment and listen before getting some rest before classes started the next morning.
My top three Looney T-Bird memories:
1. Waiting in line for vs, Pearl jam's much awaited second album.
2. Purchasing an album entitled Bee Thousand from some strange band called Guided by Voices. It was a new movement called "lo-fi". I loved it so much I freaked out.
3. Purchasing both Grant lee Buffalo's Mighty Joe Moon and Radiohead's The Bends in the same evening. These two are forever linked in my psyche.
Alas, Looney's has been gone for several years. I hope my new indie record store (magnolia's in Columbus, Ohio) does not go under also. I'm sure it will eventually.
sigh.
My top three Looney T-Bird memories:
1. Waiting in line for vs, Pearl jam's much awaited second album.
2. Purchasing an album entitled Bee Thousand from some strange band called Guided by Voices. It was a new movement called "lo-fi". I loved it so much I freaked out.
3. Purchasing both Grant lee Buffalo's Mighty Joe Moon and Radiohead's The Bends in the same evening. These two are forever linked in my psyche.
Alas, Looney's has been gone for several years. I hope my new indie record store (magnolia's in Columbus, Ohio) does not go under also. I'm sure it will eventually.
sigh.
4.1.06
Airtight Logical Syllogism Prognosticates a Texas Victory
USC barely beat Notre Dame.
Texas barely beat Ohio State.
Ohio State beat ND.
Hence, Texas is going to beat USC.
See? Airtight.
Texas barely beat Ohio State.
Ohio State beat ND.
Hence, Texas is going to beat USC.
See? Airtight.
Everything I ever needed to Know about the Gospel I learned from Dog the Bounty Hunter
Well, not everything. But this television show is filled with gospel parallels and overt acts of Christian conduct. (As well as more than a bit of "earthiness"... and quite a few stellar mullets as well).
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that the gospel is more clearly seen in thie show than it is in 95% of what is aired on religious networks and certainly more than anything ever seen on any of the Tounched by An Angel or 7th Heaven crap.
I hope to get season one on dvd.
"grace & justice join and point to mercy's store"
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that the gospel is more clearly seen in thie show than it is in 95% of what is aired on religious networks and certainly more than anything ever seen on any of the Tounched by An Angel or 7th Heaven crap.
I hope to get season one on dvd.
"grace & justice join and point to mercy's store"
3.1.06
2.1.06
Good Dogma
Official Christianity, of late years, has been having what is known as "a bad press". We are constantly assured that the churches are empty because preachers insist too much upon doctrine- "dull dogma", as people call it. The fact is the precise opposite. It is the neglect of dogma that makes for dullness. The Christian Faith is the most exciting drama that ever stagered the imagination of man- and the dogma is the drama.
Now, we may call that doctrine exhilarating or we may call it devastating; we may call it revelation or we may call it rubbish; but if we call it dull, then words have no meaning at all. That God should play the tyrant over man is a dismal story of unrelieved oppression; that man should play the tyrant over man is the usual dreary record of human futility; but that man should play the tyrant over God and find Him a better man than himself is an astonishing drama indeed.
- Dorothy Sayers in Creed or Chaos
Now, we may call that doctrine exhilarating or we may call it devastating; we may call it revelation or we may call it rubbish; but if we call it dull, then words have no meaning at all. That God should play the tyrant over man is a dismal story of unrelieved oppression; that man should play the tyrant over man is the usual dreary record of human futility; but that man should play the tyrant over God and find Him a better man than himself is an astonishing drama indeed.
- Dorothy Sayers in Creed or Chaos
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