Follow the link to a free live show you can download from Tim Easton. Tim is in LA and hangs with the Lucinda Williams set in Nashville from time to time, as well as the M Ward faction.
But he is from Ohio and spends a portion of the year right here in little ol' Columbus and often drinks Coffee at the Cup O Joe in Clintonville which the Funky Presbyter has been known to frequent. Easton's new album is due to be released on May 16th of this year, which is another thing we've got in common. I was "released" on May 16th in 1974. Guess what I'm buying myself for my birthday this year?
If you've not heard Easton I highly recommend him. My friend Nand turned me on to him and one thing I've learned is if a guy named "Nand" tells you to listen to something, then do it especially if the guys named Nand also has a silent "L" in his last name. That is a sure fire sign of good musical taste. It's like genetic or something. He is heads and shoulders above all the other singer songwriter, alt country, pop, folk guys out there. (Tim, not Nand. I've never heard sopng written by Nand, so I can;t speak for his songwriting). I'd put Easton in the same camp as Ryan Adams' best work. At times even better. He's got what SImon Cowell would call the "it" factor. Yes, I've been watching American Idol. shut up.
22.3.06
lyric of the day
From Home Again Garden Grove by The Mountain Goats...
I can remember when we were in highschool
Our dreams were like fugitive warlords
Plotting triumphant returns to the city
Keeping tech nines tucked under the floor boards
Now we are practical men of the world
We tether our dreams to the turf
And cruise down the alleys for honey to feed them
Like jelley fish riding the surf
I can remember when we were in highschool
Our dreams were like fugitive warlords
Plotting triumphant returns to the city
Keeping tech nines tucked under the floor boards
Now we are practical men of the world
We tether our dreams to the turf
And cruise down the alleys for honey to feed them
Like jelley fish riding the surf
21.3.06
Do Not Panic
Those of you in the central Ohio area know that for the last two days, all media reports have been bleeping and screeching their warnings to us: Severe Winter Storm Advisor.
I'm afraid the time is now upon us. News reports are now calling for... (brace yourselves)... one to three inches. Yes, the situation is very grave. Perhaps now would be a good time to say parting words to your loved ones and make peace with your maker.
The WHITE DEATH is upon us.
I'm afraid the time is now upon us. News reports are now calling for... (brace yourselves)... one to three inches. Yes, the situation is very grave. Perhaps now would be a good time to say parting words to your loved ones and make peace with your maker.
The WHITE DEATH is upon us.
15.3.06
14.3.06
Presbyterian Pastor humor:
You might be a TR if...
1. You first quote the Westminster Confession and then say, "Oh yeah, the Bible says this somewhere, too."
2. You refuse to vote for Jesus as Time Magazine's "Person of the Year" because you don't want an image of Christ on the front cover.
3. You secretly believe that you have to believe in election to be saved.
4. You think Puritans are really, really, really, REALLY cool.
5. While not being a theonomist, you completely understand them.
6. While officially affirming the "priesthood of all believers," the only people you really trust to interpret Scripture are Calvin and yourself, and you only trust yourself on Thursdays before noon.
7. For you, a Baptist and stupid are the same word.
8. A "Reformed Baptist" and a "square circle" are equally as difficult for you to imagine.
9. You wonder what the Holy Spirit was up to between the times of Paul and Calvin.
10. You think women belong in the home and not in any pulpit, much less a staff position in large churches.
11. At some point in your life, you honestly believed that the only people who are saved are you and your buddy who thinks just like you, and then you kind of have to wonder about him because he DOES think just like you.
12. You think any church that has more than 200 people is probably apostate.
13. You are personally repulsed by Campus Crusade for Christ.
14. It is harder for you to keep the Sabbath than it is to fill out your taxes.
15. You keep telling yourself that Willow Creek has to be a really bad dream.
16. You've considered stoning someone.
17. You've seriously thought about lighting up a cigarette in church.
18. You think "that Pope as the Antichrist thing" should never have been taken out of the Confession.
19. Saying a blessing before the first round of drinks doesn't seem strange to you at all.
20. Your favorite Bible is your "Authorized Bahnsen Version."
21. You're convinced that everyone in your Presbytery is secretly a 33rd degree Mason.
22. You know that the Apocrypha doesn't belong in the canon, but you wonder sometimes whether we should add Van Til's, "The Defense of the Faith."
23. You pray daily for God to release His judgement on para-church ministries.
24. You think no true evangelism has been done without at least 3 lengthy quotes from the Confession.
25. You can't figure out why God didn't take Van Til like He did Enoch.
26. For you, tobacco is its own major food group.
27. You like Sproul Jr. a whole lot better than his father.
28. You think John Gerstner was an Arminian who knows better now.
29. You think the "Concerned Presbyterians" are way too moderate.
30. The only reason you haven't condemned Covenant Seminary is because you went there and you don't want to invalidate your entire theological training.
31. You have no idea what personality type you are, which explains why you are a TR.
You might be a BR if...
1. You changed the name of your church from "Knox Reformed Presbyterian" to "Grace Community Fellowship."
2. You've ever seriously considered going to Pensacola or Toronto to bring back the fire.
3. You think what the church needs is another revival, not another reformation.
4. You've ever done an "infant dedication" service.
5. You own more than one book by C. Peter Wagner, David Wilkerson, James Dobson, or Gary Smalley
6. You don't own anything by Charles Hodge, Archibald Alexander, or B.B. Warfield.
7. You think it's a good thing that many of your members don't know the church is Presbyterian.
8. The words "relevant, contemporary, and cutting edge" cause you to salivate excessively.
9. You don't trust anyone who doesn't have exceptions to the Confession.
10. You consider it to be in bad taste to ask theological questions of a candidate on the floor of Presbytery.
11. You've ever cut a service short because of "Super Bowl Sunday."
12. You constantly use the word "just" while praying (i.e. We "just" really want to thank you).
13. You switched to using overheads so people would have their hands free to "just really worship God."
14. You believe the greatest work on Apologetics ever written was "More than a Carpenter."
15. You wish there was some way of incorporating an altar call into your service.
16. You have a "worship team."
17. You believe that Republican and Christian are synonyms.
18. The most common logo on your casual clothing is "PK."
19. You nod your head when someone says, "Doctrine divides."
20. You could sell your copy of the Confession in "like new" condition.
21. You think that the PCUSA went Liberal because people just really stopped loving Jesus.
1. You first quote the Westminster Confession and then say, "Oh yeah, the Bible says this somewhere, too."
2. You refuse to vote for Jesus as Time Magazine's "Person of the Year" because you don't want an image of Christ on the front cover.
3. You secretly believe that you have to believe in election to be saved.
4. You think Puritans are really, really, really, REALLY cool.
5. While not being a theonomist, you completely understand them.
6. While officially affirming the "priesthood of all believers," the only people you really trust to interpret Scripture are Calvin and yourself, and you only trust yourself on Thursdays before noon.
7. For you, a Baptist and stupid are the same word.
8. A "Reformed Baptist" and a "square circle" are equally as difficult for you to imagine.
9. You wonder what the Holy Spirit was up to between the times of Paul and Calvin.
10. You think women belong in the home and not in any pulpit, much less a staff position in large churches.
11. At some point in your life, you honestly believed that the only people who are saved are you and your buddy who thinks just like you, and then you kind of have to wonder about him because he DOES think just like you.
12. You think any church that has more than 200 people is probably apostate.
13. You are personally repulsed by Campus Crusade for Christ.
14. It is harder for you to keep the Sabbath than it is to fill out your taxes.
15. You keep telling yourself that Willow Creek has to be a really bad dream.
16. You've considered stoning someone.
17. You've seriously thought about lighting up a cigarette in church.
18. You think "that Pope as the Antichrist thing" should never have been taken out of the Confession.
19. Saying a blessing before the first round of drinks doesn't seem strange to you at all.
20. Your favorite Bible is your "Authorized Bahnsen Version."
21. You're convinced that everyone in your Presbytery is secretly a 33rd degree Mason.
22. You know that the Apocrypha doesn't belong in the canon, but you wonder sometimes whether we should add Van Til's, "The Defense of the Faith."
23. You pray daily for God to release His judgement on para-church ministries.
24. You think no true evangelism has been done without at least 3 lengthy quotes from the Confession.
25. You can't figure out why God didn't take Van Til like He did Enoch.
26. For you, tobacco is its own major food group.
27. You like Sproul Jr. a whole lot better than his father.
28. You think John Gerstner was an Arminian who knows better now.
29. You think the "Concerned Presbyterians" are way too moderate.
30. The only reason you haven't condemned Covenant Seminary is because you went there and you don't want to invalidate your entire theological training.
31. You have no idea what personality type you are, which explains why you are a TR.
You might be a BR if...
1. You changed the name of your church from "Knox Reformed Presbyterian" to "Grace Community Fellowship."
2. You've ever seriously considered going to Pensacola or Toronto to bring back the fire.
3. You think what the church needs is another revival, not another reformation.
4. You've ever done an "infant dedication" service.
5. You own more than one book by C. Peter Wagner, David Wilkerson, James Dobson, or Gary Smalley
6. You don't own anything by Charles Hodge, Archibald Alexander, or B.B. Warfield.
7. You think it's a good thing that many of your members don't know the church is Presbyterian.
8. The words "relevant, contemporary, and cutting edge" cause you to salivate excessively.
9. You don't trust anyone who doesn't have exceptions to the Confession.
10. You consider it to be in bad taste to ask theological questions of a candidate on the floor of Presbytery.
11. You've ever cut a service short because of "Super Bowl Sunday."
12. You constantly use the word "just" while praying (i.e. We "just" really want to thank you).
13. You switched to using overheads so people would have their hands free to "just really worship God."
14. You believe the greatest work on Apologetics ever written was "More than a Carpenter."
15. You wish there was some way of incorporating an altar call into your service.
16. You have a "worship team."
17. You believe that Republican and Christian are synonyms.
18. The most common logo on your casual clothing is "PK."
19. You nod your head when someone says, "Doctrine divides."
20. You could sell your copy of the Confession in "like new" condition.
21. You think that the PCUSA went Liberal because people just really stopped loving Jesus.
13.3.06
Currently Rocking Out To:
Page France, Hello Dear Wind
Click title for a special surprise. Here are some reviews:
Though Hello, Dear Wind's catchy melodies and evocative lyrics will grab your attention from the first spin, there's a lot of depth behind them. It's as deeply revealing and honest an album as you're likely to hear all year. -SPLENDID
Page France is an easy contender for my personal favorite album of the year... Hello Dear Wind sees compelling, poetic, mysterious lyrics set to sweet and gentle melodies sung primarily by Michael Nau, with big beautiful female harmonies by Whitney McGraw, backed up by magnificent production centered around acoustic guitar with nice subtle additions of bells and shakers, easy-breezy kick drums and flower-power tambourines.-LEFT HIP MAGAZINE
Michael Nau and Co. have created a completely charming, endlessly endearing, uniquely understated, and totally immersing sophomore album. I can’t take it out of my stereo, and I don’t think that I’ll have to for a while- it feels new every time I hear it. If you like any type of indie-pop, Hello, Dear Wind will be the best album of the year for you, and that’s not an understatement.-INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
Listening to Hello, Dear Wind makes me wish that I had a girlfriend. Not only would it be a perfect soundtrack for a Fall romance, but when our eventual break-up comes around, it would serve as splendid hearbreak music as well! It's great love music and it's great breakup music - that's the kind of duality of the newest album from Maryland natives, Page France.-YOU AIN'T NO PICASSO
The xylophone- and organ-friendly, childlike acoustic folk is the product of kids who sound like they still get a good deal of joy out of producing music, a product that gets a little better with every listen. Here’s hoping Page France will get all the ears they deserve.
-AVERSION
Click title for a special surprise. Here are some reviews:
Though Hello, Dear Wind's catchy melodies and evocative lyrics will grab your attention from the first spin, there's a lot of depth behind them. It's as deeply revealing and honest an album as you're likely to hear all year. -SPLENDID
Page France is an easy contender for my personal favorite album of the year... Hello Dear Wind sees compelling, poetic, mysterious lyrics set to sweet and gentle melodies sung primarily by Michael Nau, with big beautiful female harmonies by Whitney McGraw, backed up by magnificent production centered around acoustic guitar with nice subtle additions of bells and shakers, easy-breezy kick drums and flower-power tambourines.-LEFT HIP MAGAZINE
Michael Nau and Co. have created a completely charming, endlessly endearing, uniquely understated, and totally immersing sophomore album. I can’t take it out of my stereo, and I don’t think that I’ll have to for a while- it feels new every time I hear it. If you like any type of indie-pop, Hello, Dear Wind will be the best album of the year for you, and that’s not an understatement.-INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
Listening to Hello, Dear Wind makes me wish that I had a girlfriend. Not only would it be a perfect soundtrack for a Fall romance, but when our eventual break-up comes around, it would serve as splendid hearbreak music as well! It's great love music and it's great breakup music - that's the kind of duality of the newest album from Maryland natives, Page France.-YOU AIN'T NO PICASSO
The xylophone- and organ-friendly, childlike acoustic folk is the product of kids who sound like they still get a good deal of joy out of producing music, a product that gets a little better with every listen. Here’s hoping Page France will get all the ears they deserve.
-AVERSION
Prison vs. Work
[Best thing about church planting? No cubicles.]
Prison vs. Work
IN PRISON...you spend the majority of your time in an 8X10 cell.
AT WORK... you spend the majority of your time in a 6X8 cubicle.
IN PRISON...you get three meals a day.
AT WORK...you only get a break for one meal and you pay for it.
IN PRISON...you get time off for good behavior.
AT WORK...you get more work for good behavior.
IN PRISON...the guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you.
AT WORK...you must carry around a security card and open all the doors for yourself.
IN PRISON...you can watch TV and play games.
AT WORK...you get fired for watching TV and playing games.
IN PRISON...you get your own toilet.
AT WORK...you have to share with some idiot who pees on the seat.
IN PRISON...they allow your family and friends to visit.
AT WORK...you can't even speak to your family.
IN PRISON...all expenses are paid by the taxpayers with no work required.
AT WORK...you get to pay all the expenses to go to work and then they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for prisoners.
IN PRISON...you spend most of your life inside bars wanting to get out.
AT WORK...you spend most of your time wanting to get out and go inside bars.
IN PRISON...you must deal with sadistic wardens.
AT WORK...they are called managers.
Top 10 drawbacks to working in a cubicle..
10. Being told to ‘Think outside the Box’ when you’re in a @#$%?*! box all day long.
9. Not being able to check e-mail attachments without turning around to see who’s behind you.
8. Fabric cubicle walls do not offer much protection from any kind of gunfire.
7. That nagging feeling that if you press the right button, you’ll get a piece of cheese!
6. Lack of roof rafters for the noose.
5. The walls are too close together for the hammock to work right.
4. 23 power cords, 1 outlet.
3. Prison cells are not only bigger, they also have beds.
2. When tours come through, you get lots of peanuts thrown at you.
And the Number 1 Drawback to Working in a Cubicle:
1. You can’t slam the door when you quit and walk out.
Prison vs. Work
IN PRISON...you spend the majority of your time in an 8X10 cell.
AT WORK... you spend the majority of your time in a 6X8 cubicle.
IN PRISON...you get three meals a day.
AT WORK...you only get a break for one meal and you pay for it.
IN PRISON...you get time off for good behavior.
AT WORK...you get more work for good behavior.
IN PRISON...the guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you.
AT WORK...you must carry around a security card and open all the doors for yourself.
IN PRISON...you can watch TV and play games.
AT WORK...you get fired for watching TV and playing games.
IN PRISON...you get your own toilet.
AT WORK...you have to share with some idiot who pees on the seat.
IN PRISON...they allow your family and friends to visit.
AT WORK...you can't even speak to your family.
IN PRISON...all expenses are paid by the taxpayers with no work required.
AT WORK...you get to pay all the expenses to go to work and then they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for prisoners.
IN PRISON...you spend most of your life inside bars wanting to get out.
AT WORK...you spend most of your time wanting to get out and go inside bars.
IN PRISON...you must deal with sadistic wardens.
AT WORK...they are called managers.
Top 10 drawbacks to working in a cubicle..
10. Being told to ‘Think outside the Box’ when you’re in a @#$%?*! box all day long.
9. Not being able to check e-mail attachments without turning around to see who’s behind you.
8. Fabric cubicle walls do not offer much protection from any kind of gunfire.
7. That nagging feeling that if you press the right button, you’ll get a piece of cheese!
6. Lack of roof rafters for the noose.
5. The walls are too close together for the hammock to work right.
4. 23 power cords, 1 outlet.
3. Prison cells are not only bigger, they also have beds.
2. When tours come through, you get lots of peanuts thrown at you.
And the Number 1 Drawback to Working in a Cubicle:
1. You can’t slam the door when you quit and walk out.
Cubicle Inventor Regrets His Invention.
So you're saying the office cubicle wasn't invented by Satan, afterall?
11.3.06
More Dollars & People: Is Ministry About Numbers?
Three fighter jets are flying along on a mission, having a conversation.
"What a shame!" cries the first jet. "This recent preoccupation in the aeronautical community with increased fuel capacity and higher speeds- it amounts to little more than a gratuitious display of ego and pomposity!"
"Indeed" agrees the second jet. "And not only that, but this lust for fuel and speed has compromised our mission as fighter jets. In fact, one would think from all the talk, that acquiring more speed and fuel has actually BECOME the mission. What is important is the mission. It's not about fuel and speed. It's about the mission!"
"Perhaps, my brothers" said the third jet (whose fuel tank was a bit smaller and whose engine was a bit slower than the other two) "But what these times really call for is not more fuel capacity or greater speeds, but that we jets learn to fly straighter lines, hold the course. That we are sure to run all of our instrument tests in the proper manner and that we follow proper procedures. This rather than fuel and speed will ensure we are true to our mission".
"A good reminder, friend" say the first two jets. "It is agreed, then. The desire for greater fuel capacity and higer rates of speed is a hinderance to our true mission. Aircraft should not seek fuel and speed. We must see only to fulfill our mission. Flight is not about more fuel and more speed. Flight is about the mission"
"and proper procedures" reminded the third jet helpfully.
"Yes, yes" say the first two jets, " and proper procedures". And there was wisdom in their conclusion.
Meanwhile, thousands of feet below the fighter jets, a small single-prop cessna is sputtering down a dirt runway with the engine at full throttle. All afternoon the little plane has been spinning it's propeller and straining it's engine in an attempt to gain flight and join the mission given by the Flight Commander. He looks nervously at his own fuel gage as it's needle drops closer to "E". Occasionally he gets the speed to bounce a few feet off the runway before dropping back down to dirt. And he is growing discouraged and frustrated.
"If I'm ever going to fulfill the mission" the cessna says to himself, "I need to get more fuel and more speed".
Just then the cessna's radio picks up the conversation taking place far above his head. He tunes in just in time to hear the three jets' pronouncement:
"The desire for greater fuel capacity and higher rates of speed is a hinderance to our true mission. Aircraft should not seek fuel and speed. We must seek only to fulfill our mission. Flight is not about more fuel and more speed. "
The cessna thinks over his options. Perhaps the jets are correct. Afterall, they've been quite a bit more successful than he has at attaining lift and flight. Plus think of all their expereince and wisdom. Who can argue with principles like "mission and proper procedure"? Perhaps the cessna's focus on speed and fuel has been wrong all along. Perhaps he should sputter along at his current rate of speed until his fuel tank is empty. Perhaps at that point the great Flight Commander will sweep him into the air on a great gust of wind and carry him through the mission. Surely this is the more faithful course of action.
Then again, maybe the cessna recognizes that the conversation taking place high above his head is one that can only be had between aircrafts who've already attained the speed and lift necessary for flight, and whose tanks have the fuel necessary to get them to their destination. In which case he should be about the business of marshalling his remaining resources to acquire more fuel and more speed, so that lift will produce flight. And through flight he can contribute to the mission.
"What a shame!" cries the first jet. "This recent preoccupation in the aeronautical community with increased fuel capacity and higher speeds- it amounts to little more than a gratuitious display of ego and pomposity!"
"Indeed" agrees the second jet. "And not only that, but this lust for fuel and speed has compromised our mission as fighter jets. In fact, one would think from all the talk, that acquiring more speed and fuel has actually BECOME the mission. What is important is the mission. It's not about fuel and speed. It's about the mission!"
"Perhaps, my brothers" said the third jet (whose fuel tank was a bit smaller and whose engine was a bit slower than the other two) "But what these times really call for is not more fuel capacity or greater speeds, but that we jets learn to fly straighter lines, hold the course. That we are sure to run all of our instrument tests in the proper manner and that we follow proper procedures. This rather than fuel and speed will ensure we are true to our mission".
"A good reminder, friend" say the first two jets. "It is agreed, then. The desire for greater fuel capacity and higer rates of speed is a hinderance to our true mission. Aircraft should not seek fuel and speed. We must see only to fulfill our mission. Flight is not about more fuel and more speed. Flight is about the mission"
"and proper procedures" reminded the third jet helpfully.
"Yes, yes" say the first two jets, " and proper procedures". And there was wisdom in their conclusion.
Meanwhile, thousands of feet below the fighter jets, a small single-prop cessna is sputtering down a dirt runway with the engine at full throttle. All afternoon the little plane has been spinning it's propeller and straining it's engine in an attempt to gain flight and join the mission given by the Flight Commander. He looks nervously at his own fuel gage as it's needle drops closer to "E". Occasionally he gets the speed to bounce a few feet off the runway before dropping back down to dirt. And he is growing discouraged and frustrated.
"If I'm ever going to fulfill the mission" the cessna says to himself, "I need to get more fuel and more speed".
Just then the cessna's radio picks up the conversation taking place far above his head. He tunes in just in time to hear the three jets' pronouncement:
"The desire for greater fuel capacity and higher rates of speed is a hinderance to our true mission. Aircraft should not seek fuel and speed. We must seek only to fulfill our mission. Flight is not about more fuel and more speed. "
The cessna thinks over his options. Perhaps the jets are correct. Afterall, they've been quite a bit more successful than he has at attaining lift and flight. Plus think of all their expereince and wisdom. Who can argue with principles like "mission and proper procedure"? Perhaps the cessna's focus on speed and fuel has been wrong all along. Perhaps he should sputter along at his current rate of speed until his fuel tank is empty. Perhaps at that point the great Flight Commander will sweep him into the air on a great gust of wind and carry him through the mission. Surely this is the more faithful course of action.
Then again, maybe the cessna recognizes that the conversation taking place high above his head is one that can only be had between aircrafts who've already attained the speed and lift necessary for flight, and whose tanks have the fuel necessary to get them to their destination. In which case he should be about the business of marshalling his remaining resources to acquire more fuel and more speed, so that lift will produce flight. And through flight he can contribute to the mission.
9.3.06
8.3.06
7.3.06
6.3.06
New Comments
There's good conversation taking place under the comments section of the post on Christians in the Arts.
4.3.06
Please Don't Ask How Much They Cost
I got a new toy. A set of headphones. Very nice headphones. Very big, clunky, ugly, black headphones that sound like a million bucks. So in that sense I got a real deal on them!
Even though they look like old soviet technology.
Even though they look like old soviet technology.
cool out. it's ok. be cool. EVERYBODY JUST COOL THE FRICK OUT!!!!! (I was talking to myself)
Below is a post from a blog written by a pastor in my Presbytery. Following it is my response. If you post comments, please be compassionate and respectful. This guy loves God and loves people. Please understand that his concern is for the children of the Church. He does not want to see them turn from the faith they were raised in either in their beliefs or in their lifestyles. Certainly that is commendable! I post this here for your consideration and to convince my readers that the work being done at Grace Central is necessary, good and right. Thinking like this- particularly when it comes from a minister within my camp, from a man whom I know and respect- reminds me why we are planting Grace Central. Artists are often among those who are counted as "religiously disenfranchised" and Grace Central has been called by God to be a church for the religiously disenfranchised.
So, to Grace Central - be encouraged! Your efforts are needed and valued. To artists - conduct yourselves in such a way that rob this kind of thinking of credibility. To everyone else - move to Columbus and join us in our efforts. Peace and remember: Be cool.
(Click the title above to read the article which inspired his post)
____________________________________________
Christians and the Visual Arts...
Is there anything not absolutely normal about the Hollywood lifestyle of this young woman?
Is there any way parents can train up a son or daughter for this kind of career without anticipating this kind of outcome? Are there Christians in this realm of the arts? Sure. Is the existence of Christians in this realm of the arts justification for churches and Christian schools uncritically propelling their children in this direction? Certainly not.
Coming a bit closer to home... Is there anything all that different about the moral course of a typical career in professional dance versus a career in Hollywood? Of a painter or sculptor?
In what conceivable universe should Christians be encouraging their children in these sorts of directions without anticipating potentially tragic outcomes? Does this mean every Christian actor or dancer has prostituted his or her faith? Certainly not. But the track record of those who have versus those who have not certainly shouldn't encourage us to propel our children down these career paths--or to look uncritically at the various visual art forms which so tend toward immorality. (And of course, if you've read this blog over any length of time you know that we are not merely practicing guilt-by-association in making this connection. We tend to believe Christians have failed to apply the second commandment to modern visual arts, a foundational neglect of God's Law which inevitably tends to various other forms of neglect.)
Finally, for all the talk in certain quarters about redeeming culture, all the WORLD Magazine Daniel awards for visual artists, all the lionization of Christian artists taking place in various sectors of (especially) the Reformed world, where's the beef? Where's the salt producing saltiness? Where's the light banishing the darkness? Why can't we see that only the Gospel illuminates, only the Gospel preserves? Why do we think artists and the arts are capable of redeeming culture in a way that plumbers and ditch-diggers do not?
As a matter of fact, I suspect were we to weigh the contributions to culture of Christian plumbers against Christian visual artists, the scales would come heavily down on the side of training our children to be plumbers and ditch-diggers.
One last note--please read the full story first if you're tempted toward a knee-jerk defense of Christian involvement in the representational visual arts.
______________________________________________________
David,
How many professional artists do you know personally? Where did you study the visual arts? How involved are you directly with the visual arts community in your town or area? How many Christians do you know personally who are involved in the visual arts professions? It is easy to find bad examples and unfortunate outcomes, of course. But I'd venture to guess we could find these kinds of sad stories about covenant children in any profession.
I respect your concerns, but I think you are largely speaking from a position of ignorance. Certainly not Biblical or theological ignorance. But perhaps ignorance of the faithful witness of many truly Christian artists practicing their faith with integrity in the context of the visual arts.
Perhaps the operative word in your post is "uncritically". We should do nothing "uncritically". At Grace Central we are equipping artist, dancers, designers, writers and musicians (as well as teachers, doctors, attorneys, mothers, business men, no plumbers, but two electricians etc.) to critically employ a Christ-centered worldview and belief system in the way they approach their respective fields of expertise. I have found most of these artists have been starving for a voice of affirmation and encouragement from the church in place of the voices of suspicion and denigration they have traditionally recieved.
Again, I truly do respect your concerns. I just think maybe they are communicated in an uncritical way, and have the great potential to cause a lot of damage in the lives of artists who are true believers. I know this is not your intent!
We should talk. I look forward to having lunch with you in Toledo sometime soon and it was good to see you at Presbytery.
By the way, I am completely in favor of Christian plumbers as well! Too bad they will be unemployed in the comsummated Kingdom, as I suppose the pipes there never burst! I tell you what, send some of your plumbers to us and we'll teach them to paint and sculpt, just so they have something to "fall back on" when they get to Heaven. ; )
Peace.
So, to Grace Central - be encouraged! Your efforts are needed and valued. To artists - conduct yourselves in such a way that rob this kind of thinking of credibility. To everyone else - move to Columbus and join us in our efforts. Peace and remember: Be cool.
(Click the title above to read the article which inspired his post)
____________________________________________
Christians and the Visual Arts...
Is there anything not absolutely normal about the Hollywood lifestyle of this young woman?
Is there any way parents can train up a son or daughter for this kind of career without anticipating this kind of outcome? Are there Christians in this realm of the arts? Sure. Is the existence of Christians in this realm of the arts justification for churches and Christian schools uncritically propelling their children in this direction? Certainly not.
Coming a bit closer to home... Is there anything all that different about the moral course of a typical career in professional dance versus a career in Hollywood? Of a painter or sculptor?
In what conceivable universe should Christians be encouraging their children in these sorts of directions without anticipating potentially tragic outcomes? Does this mean every Christian actor or dancer has prostituted his or her faith? Certainly not. But the track record of those who have versus those who have not certainly shouldn't encourage us to propel our children down these career paths--or to look uncritically at the various visual art forms which so tend toward immorality. (And of course, if you've read this blog over any length of time you know that we are not merely practicing guilt-by-association in making this connection. We tend to believe Christians have failed to apply the second commandment to modern visual arts, a foundational neglect of God's Law which inevitably tends to various other forms of neglect.)
Finally, for all the talk in certain quarters about redeeming culture, all the WORLD Magazine Daniel awards for visual artists, all the lionization of Christian artists taking place in various sectors of (especially) the Reformed world, where's the beef? Where's the salt producing saltiness? Where's the light banishing the darkness? Why can't we see that only the Gospel illuminates, only the Gospel preserves? Why do we think artists and the arts are capable of redeeming culture in a way that plumbers and ditch-diggers do not?
As a matter of fact, I suspect were we to weigh the contributions to culture of Christian plumbers against Christian visual artists, the scales would come heavily down on the side of training our children to be plumbers and ditch-diggers.
One last note--please read the full story first if you're tempted toward a knee-jerk defense of Christian involvement in the representational visual arts.
______________________________________________________
David,
How many professional artists do you know personally? Where did you study the visual arts? How involved are you directly with the visual arts community in your town or area? How many Christians do you know personally who are involved in the visual arts professions? It is easy to find bad examples and unfortunate outcomes, of course. But I'd venture to guess we could find these kinds of sad stories about covenant children in any profession.
I respect your concerns, but I think you are largely speaking from a position of ignorance. Certainly not Biblical or theological ignorance. But perhaps ignorance of the faithful witness of many truly Christian artists practicing their faith with integrity in the context of the visual arts.
Perhaps the operative word in your post is "uncritically". We should do nothing "uncritically". At Grace Central we are equipping artist, dancers, designers, writers and musicians (as well as teachers, doctors, attorneys, mothers, business men, no plumbers, but two electricians etc.) to critically employ a Christ-centered worldview and belief system in the way they approach their respective fields of expertise. I have found most of these artists have been starving for a voice of affirmation and encouragement from the church in place of the voices of suspicion and denigration they have traditionally recieved.
Again, I truly do respect your concerns. I just think maybe they are communicated in an uncritical way, and have the great potential to cause a lot of damage in the lives of artists who are true believers. I know this is not your intent!
We should talk. I look forward to having lunch with you in Toledo sometime soon and it was good to see you at Presbytery.
By the way, I am completely in favor of Christian plumbers as well! Too bad they will be unemployed in the comsummated Kingdom, as I suppose the pipes there never burst! I tell you what, send some of your plumbers to us and we'll teach them to paint and sculpt, just so they have something to "fall back on" when they get to Heaven. ; )
Peace.
2.3.06
Presbytery
Presbytery meeting again this week. Should be ok. I'll let you know things go. Here's a photo from the last presbytery meeting. That's me in the back with the flame thrower.
And the Award for the Most Irresistibly Juvenile Album Title Goes To...
Diskaholics Anonymous Trio, for thier album:
Weapons of Ass Destruction
Weapons of Ass Destruction
1.3.06
Things which mildly disturb me today:
1. Christians who refuse to call themselves Christians and use instead the term "follower of Jesus". Fair enough. But you realize when you say that everyone else is thinking "oh. you mean you're a Christian".
2. Churches which refuse to call themselves churches and instead call themselves "a community of Jesus followers". Fair enough but you realize when you say that the rest of us are all thinking "oh. You mean you're a church".
3. My own goatee which conceals my tiny, elfin chin.
4. The color of my office walls.
5. Winter.
6. The apostle Paul.
7. Waiting on books to arrive from amazon.
2. Churches which refuse to call themselves churches and instead call themselves "a community of Jesus followers". Fair enough but you realize when you say that the rest of us are all thinking "oh. You mean you're a church".
3. My own goatee which conceals my tiny, elfin chin.
4. The color of my office walls.
5. Winter.
6. The apostle Paul.
7. Waiting on books to arrive from amazon.
Still keepin' it real.
Yeah, I pay three bucks for a cup of java at the ultra-hip, frou-frou coffee clubs like everyone else these days. And yeah, I've developed a taste for the high brow, high priced, highly prized coffee beans found in only one farm in Columbia, grown by only one family in central America, chosen intuitively by only one species of small jungle cat in the rain forest, and available for a limited time at only the most exclusive coffee houses, or only at the most broadly expanding coffee chain. Organic, pea-berry, fair trade, hand pressed, no sugar, hold the cream, just the blessed juice of the bean, please barristta. Yeah, I am one of those guys, just like you.
But...
I haven't forgotten my roots. Sometimes, like this morning for instance, I buy my coffee for 89 cents at the same place I buy my gas. And I pump both myself. I put my hand to the communal coffee pot and fill my styrofoam cup with twenty ounces of the people's elixer of life. This is how my people have done it for generations, in the days when "tall" meant "tall" and "venti" meant "you ain't from around here are you, boy?"
So today I drink my 89 cent gas station coffee from a styrofoam cup. Today I drink with the truck drivers and the contractors, the plumbers and the electricians, the farmers and the men of every profession, fingertips thick with decades of real labor, and ask "who the hell puts a little cardboard skirt on a cup of coffee?" Today I drink with our grandpas, our fathers and our uncles Don and Dwayne, far too savy to fall for the marketing ploys of girly men in green aprons.
Cheap coffee, we are humbled by your unpretentious dignity. We are quickened by your caffinated simplicity. Today we lift our disposable cups to you.
But...
I haven't forgotten my roots. Sometimes, like this morning for instance, I buy my coffee for 89 cents at the same place I buy my gas. And I pump both myself. I put my hand to the communal coffee pot and fill my styrofoam cup with twenty ounces of the people's elixer of life. This is how my people have done it for generations, in the days when "tall" meant "tall" and "venti" meant "you ain't from around here are you, boy?"
So today I drink my 89 cent gas station coffee from a styrofoam cup. Today I drink with the truck drivers and the contractors, the plumbers and the electricians, the farmers and the men of every profession, fingertips thick with decades of real labor, and ask "who the hell puts a little cardboard skirt on a cup of coffee?" Today I drink with our grandpas, our fathers and our uncles Don and Dwayne, far too savy to fall for the marketing ploys of girly men in green aprons.
Cheap coffee, we are humbled by your unpretentious dignity. We are quickened by your caffinated simplicity. Today we lift our disposable cups to you.
27.2.06
A Great Opening Line of a Song:
song: Oceanographer's Choice
artist: The Mountain Goats
album: Talahassee
line: well a guy in a skeleton costume comes up to the guy in the superman costume, runs through him with a broad sword
artist: The Mountain Goats
album: Talahassee
line: well a guy in a skeleton costume comes up to the guy in the superman costume, runs through him with a broad sword
24.2.06
One Year Old
Hey people. The Blog turned one a couple of weeks ago and I didn't notice. I've actually been thinking about shutting it down. Even since I got all "productive" with my time, I just don't blog as much. We'll see. Maybe I'll consolidate with others of you and we can do a joint blog posting thing? Maybe not? I dunno.
But in the meantime, here are some ideas for posts I'd like to write if I had the time:
the difference between nirvana, zen and shalom
that Velvet Elvis book review I've been meaning to write
an article called the four resurrections of johnny cash
a contrast of the philosophies of the nature of humanity and history as seen in the 2005 works "I'm wide awake and it's morning" by Bright Eyes and "Illinoise" by Sufjan Stevens. (Bright Eyes' work is mostly Nietzchian with respect to human nature and the cyclical nature of history, while Sufjan's work is more eschatologically oriented, meaning it sees a forward trajectory to history and his view of human nature is Augustinian)
sanctification & pharmeceuticals
Ancient Mesopotamian & Hebrew Creation Accounts: Was Moses a Deconstructionist?
Authoritative Deconstruction: A Legitimate Apologetic for a Post-Whatever World?
Female and Male as the Image of God
Foucault was right about language being a power play and that's ok for the Christian to embrace because afterall, our God is a God who speaks and our Savior is the WORD incarnate.
Submission as liberation
Means of Grace as a way of life
Maybe a church should measure it's effectiveness by how many programs it cuts each year.
Maybe parachurch is not a legitmitate biblical category or maybe it is but is usally done poorly or maybe not poorly by not thoughtfully or maybe churches should just put up the cash and bring all the parachurch guys on staff so they don't have to raise thier own money and then everyone will be better off.
Why triangles are the answer to everything
Why the local church is the hope of the world
John Frame- Revolutionary Thinker, or Master of the Obvious?
Matt Birt: A Profile in Staying Where you're at and doing something about why where you're at sucks
That's all for now.
But in the meantime, here are some ideas for posts I'd like to write if I had the time:
the difference between nirvana, zen and shalom
that Velvet Elvis book review I've been meaning to write
an article called the four resurrections of johnny cash
a contrast of the philosophies of the nature of humanity and history as seen in the 2005 works "I'm wide awake and it's morning" by Bright Eyes and "Illinoise" by Sufjan Stevens. (Bright Eyes' work is mostly Nietzchian with respect to human nature and the cyclical nature of history, while Sufjan's work is more eschatologically oriented, meaning it sees a forward trajectory to history and his view of human nature is Augustinian)
sanctification & pharmeceuticals
Ancient Mesopotamian & Hebrew Creation Accounts: Was Moses a Deconstructionist?
Authoritative Deconstruction: A Legitimate Apologetic for a Post-Whatever World?
Female and Male as the Image of God
Foucault was right about language being a power play and that's ok for the Christian to embrace because afterall, our God is a God who speaks and our Savior is the WORD incarnate.
Submission as liberation
Means of Grace as a way of life
Maybe a church should measure it's effectiveness by how many programs it cuts each year.
Maybe parachurch is not a legitmitate biblical category or maybe it is but is usally done poorly or maybe not poorly by not thoughtfully or maybe churches should just put up the cash and bring all the parachurch guys on staff so they don't have to raise thier own money and then everyone will be better off.
Why triangles are the answer to everything
Why the local church is the hope of the world
John Frame- Revolutionary Thinker, or Master of the Obvious?
Matt Birt: A Profile in Staying Where you're at and doing something about why where you're at sucks
That's all for now.
23.2.06
Back in Action!
Sorry folks. There for a while, the FP vanished from the blogosphere. Not quite sure what the deal was with that.
22.2.06
20.2.06
15.2.06
Playing With Water
Here's Sam at Cosi playing in the water. Doesn't Leonard Cohen have a song about a blue raincoat or something? Somebody check that out for me.
Anyway, I think this photo turned out nice. Charity snapped it.
Anyway, I think this photo turned out nice. Charity snapped it.
Jack the Artist
Here is a picture of Jack painting a ceramic dinosaur at a pottery filed trip he took recently with one of the homeschooling co-ops we participate in.
Sam the Stunt Man
Here's a picture of Sam precariously balanced on the seat of his tricycle holding on with just one hand.
Any good mother would instinctively rescue him from certain calamity. Any proud father instinctively reaches for the digital camera.
Any good mother would instinctively rescue him from certain calamity. Any proud father instinctively reaches for the digital camera.
Jack the Actor
In this photo, Jack is acting like a dinosaur. He likes acting. Recently he declared himself a director and began work on a film entitled "Murmur Dog". Jack not only acts in the film, but he also wrote it and directs it. He's creative and ambitious.
Jokes Told by Framian-Presuppositional Indie Rock Fans:
Here's one I made up last night at a concert:
Guy walks out on stage. Says:
"Hello, Situational Perspective! We are Existential Perspective! This next song is called Normative Perspective! "
This joke is mostly for Dru Johnson. But I don't think he'll like it.
Guy walks out on stage. Says:
"Hello, Situational Perspective! We are Existential Perspective! This next song is called Normative Perspective! "
This joke is mostly for Dru Johnson. But I don't think he'll like it.
10.2.06
Ha!
An hilarious article from the onion. Reminds me of what a professor of mine once said. Something like this, "It is a sin to preach in such a way that makes God's word appear irrelevant. It is also a sin to do it in such a way that makes his word appear boring".
8.2.06
I AM by Robert Rottet
I Am
I.
I am the forgotten song emerging in you
I communed with your soul when your grandmother sang
My verses are in your veins
my rhythm courses through your heart
Open your mouth and let me out
I will fly back to the place of your birth
I will gather visions of school yards
and adolescent games
I will cross the ocean to the home of your ancestors
I will summon their language within your body
You will hear the echoes of revolution and war
You will feel the passion of love and release
You will know the peace of joy and bravery
Its all here
inside of me
I am the song
II.
I am blues
I am jazz
I am rock and roll
I am Muddy Waters singing "I be’s troubled" on the front porch of
a cabin on Stovall Plantation
I tell you "I never be’s sasafied"
and you say the sorrow sounds sweeter
than sweet potato pie
I am John Coltrane with my tenor sax on a good night in the
Harlem Beat Kitchen
Miles is playing the sad notes
Bird is playing the pretty ones
and I am burning a hole in this ceiling
Art and Monk are sitting there with their mouths wide open saying
"Boy what got into you?"
and I say "No, what got out of me?"
because I got the heroine out of my veins
I am loud amplifiers, headbands, costumes, platform shoes and yes
I can play this guitar
behind my back
and when I’ve strangled every sound out of this Stratocaster
that you couldn’t imagine
and she is destroyed because her message was too wonderful to
hear
and burned like a witch
then you say
"He was our voice and our savior"
III.
I am bald like the eagle
and I glide high above
with succinct movements
exuding regality in all that I am
I screech and my voice
is swallowed in this canyon
where I believe myself to be
king
You admire me
but you smile a smug smile
knowing that one day
the sky will become a mirror
IV.
I am fat and spoiled
like the squirrel who plunders the moldy bread and bird seed
that my mother has left for the blue jays
In the thrill of my theft
I wander into the street
to receive rebuke from an angry Monte Carlo
panic stricken
I turn both to the left and to the right
forgetting my origin and name
V.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made
I am every man and every woman
(no, this is not Walt Whitman)
and I am the LORD’s creation
I am the forgotten song that is emerging in you
I am the inner-city and the country
the soy beans and the section-8-government housing
I am the earth, wind, sky and stars
I am the eagle
I am the squirrel
blues, jazz, rock and roll
rich, poor, wise and otherwise
I am american
I am the world
I am
VI.
I AM the I AM
from the beginning
(as you call it)
and to the end
I am not something you can figure out
with your finite mind
I am very near you
and will never be far
Surrender to me
love me
I am the LORD
I.
I am the forgotten song emerging in you
I communed with your soul when your grandmother sang
My verses are in your veins
my rhythm courses through your heart
Open your mouth and let me out
I will fly back to the place of your birth
I will gather visions of school yards
and adolescent games
I will cross the ocean to the home of your ancestors
I will summon their language within your body
You will hear the echoes of revolution and war
You will feel the passion of love and release
You will know the peace of joy and bravery
Its all here
inside of me
I am the song
II.
I am blues
I am jazz
I am rock and roll
I am Muddy Waters singing "I be’s troubled" on the front porch of
a cabin on Stovall Plantation
I tell you "I never be’s sasafied"
and you say the sorrow sounds sweeter
than sweet potato pie
I am John Coltrane with my tenor sax on a good night in the
Harlem Beat Kitchen
Miles is playing the sad notes
Bird is playing the pretty ones
and I am burning a hole in this ceiling
Art and Monk are sitting there with their mouths wide open saying
"Boy what got into you?"
and I say "No, what got out of me?"
because I got the heroine out of my veins
I am loud amplifiers, headbands, costumes, platform shoes and yes
I can play this guitar
behind my back
and when I’ve strangled every sound out of this Stratocaster
that you couldn’t imagine
and she is destroyed because her message was too wonderful to
hear
and burned like a witch
then you say
"He was our voice and our savior"
III.
I am bald like the eagle
and I glide high above
with succinct movements
exuding regality in all that I am
I screech and my voice
is swallowed in this canyon
where I believe myself to be
king
You admire me
but you smile a smug smile
knowing that one day
the sky will become a mirror
IV.
I am fat and spoiled
like the squirrel who plunders the moldy bread and bird seed
that my mother has left for the blue jays
In the thrill of my theft
I wander into the street
to receive rebuke from an angry Monte Carlo
panic stricken
I turn both to the left and to the right
forgetting my origin and name
V.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made
I am every man and every woman
(no, this is not Walt Whitman)
and I am the LORD’s creation
I am the forgotten song that is emerging in you
I am the inner-city and the country
the soy beans and the section-8-government housing
I am the earth, wind, sky and stars
I am the eagle
I am the squirrel
blues, jazz, rock and roll
rich, poor, wise and otherwise
I am american
I am the world
I am
VI.
I AM the I AM
from the beginning
(as you call it)
and to the end
I am not something you can figure out
with your finite mind
I am very near you
and will never be far
Surrender to me
love me
I am the LORD
6.2.06
"Singles Ministry" According to Belle and Sebastian
If You Find Yourself Caught In Love
If you find yourself caught in love
Say a prayer to the man above
Thank him for everything you know
You should thank him for every breath you blow
If you find yourself caught in love
Say a prayer to the man above
You should thank him for every day you pass
Thank him for saving your sorry ass
If you’re single, but looking out
You must raise your prayer to a shout
Another partner must be found
Someone to take your life beyond
Another TV “I Love 1999”
Just one more box of cheapo wine
If you find yourself caught in love
You should say a prayer to the man above
If you don’t listen to the voices then my friend
You’ll soon run out of choices
What a pity it would be
You talk of freedom don’t you see
The only freedom that you’ll ever really know
Is written in books from long ago
Give up your will to Him that loves you
Things will change, I’m not saying overnight
But something has to give
You’re too good looking not to live
If you find yourself caught in love
Say a prayer to the man above
Thank him for everything you know
You should thank him for every breath you blow
If you find yourself caught in love
Say a prayer to the man above
You should thank him for every day you pass
Thank him for saving your sorry ass
If you’re single, but looking out
You must raise your prayer to a shout
Another partner must be found
Someone to take your life beyond
Another TV “I Love 1999”
Just one more box of cheapo wine
If you find yourself caught in love
You should say a prayer to the man above
If you don’t listen to the voices then my friend
You’ll soon run out of choices
What a pity it would be
You talk of freedom don’t you see
The only freedom that you’ll ever really know
Is written in books from long ago
Give up your will to Him that loves you
Things will change, I’m not saying overnight
But something has to give
You’re too good looking not to live
Fighting Entropy
Over the past couple of months I have implemented the following systems to help hold back the ever present onslaught of entropy in my vocational life. It's helping.
1. Man Bag- As you know, I bought a man bag... a murse... a satchel. Whatever. It helps because it holds my planner. It is really just a way of physically attaching my calendar to myself at all times. So I can schedule and check my schedule and store important papers and receipts, etc at all times.
2. Drugs- I went to the Dr and was diagnosed with narcolepsy and add. The drugs are helping somewhat. Now I can concentrate for more than 15 minutes at a time. Which is part of the reason my blog posts are fewer and farther between.
3. Admin Assitant- I hired my wife to be my admin assistant, even though every body said not to. It was the best decision I've made since I married her. I should have hired her two years ago. She does three times the work in half the time.
4. Cell phone clip- Every three weeks I lose my cell phone for ten days. I recently spent twenty bucks on a crappy little cell phone holder that clips to the strap of my man bag (see item 1). Well worth the money, even if the design of the holder totally throws off the aesthetic of the bag. I've not lost my cell phone since I purchased it! I'm going to get another clip to attach my keys to my bag. I think my entire life should be held together with little clips like that. Maybe I'll create a clip system and write a book with a an accomanying work book and journal and go on the motivational speaking circuit. Nobody would come of course, unless a charged 25k per session and called it a "workshop".
Other things I am excited to implement: A prayer system I found out about that helps to organize prayer requests in a systematic manner so you can pray through them in a way that makes some sense. Now when I say I'll pray for somebody there's about a 40% chance I'll either forget, or only pray for them once and then forget. This new system should help greatly. I'll keep you updated. Also, a strategic planning system for the church that will help us align what we do with what we say wwe want to do. I kind of had something like this in effect already, but this system I learned about is much more thorough, yet simple and has less holes in it. It will help keep me and GC on task.
1. Man Bag- As you know, I bought a man bag... a murse... a satchel. Whatever. It helps because it holds my planner. It is really just a way of physically attaching my calendar to myself at all times. So I can schedule and check my schedule and store important papers and receipts, etc at all times.
2. Drugs- I went to the Dr and was diagnosed with narcolepsy and add. The drugs are helping somewhat. Now I can concentrate for more than 15 minutes at a time. Which is part of the reason my blog posts are fewer and farther between.
3. Admin Assitant- I hired my wife to be my admin assistant, even though every body said not to. It was the best decision I've made since I married her. I should have hired her two years ago. She does three times the work in half the time.
4. Cell phone clip- Every three weeks I lose my cell phone for ten days. I recently spent twenty bucks on a crappy little cell phone holder that clips to the strap of my man bag (see item 1). Well worth the money, even if the design of the holder totally throws off the aesthetic of the bag. I've not lost my cell phone since I purchased it! I'm going to get another clip to attach my keys to my bag. I think my entire life should be held together with little clips like that. Maybe I'll create a clip system and write a book with a an accomanying work book and journal and go on the motivational speaking circuit. Nobody would come of course, unless a charged 25k per session and called it a "workshop".
Other things I am excited to implement: A prayer system I found out about that helps to organize prayer requests in a systematic manner so you can pray through them in a way that makes some sense. Now when I say I'll pray for somebody there's about a 40% chance I'll either forget, or only pray for them once and then forget. This new system should help greatly. I'll keep you updated. Also, a strategic planning system for the church that will help us align what we do with what we say wwe want to do. I kind of had something like this in effect already, but this system I learned about is much more thorough, yet simple and has less holes in it. It will help keep me and GC on task.
3.2.06
Do not be alarmed.
I apologize for my extended absence. About ten days ago, I listened to the album "let there be morning" by the Perishers and was immediately over powered by the awesomness. All the beauty of Colplay none of the "what is it about these guys that I find mildly annoying".
Anywho, I am back among the living, as you can plainly tell. Thanks for your concern. And whatever you do, DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM.
Anywho, I am back among the living, as you can plainly tell. Thanks for your concern. And whatever you do, DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM.
25.1.06
Corn!
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.
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)
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