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
10.1.06
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)