Next to the Bible, this may be the most important book I've ever read. I really do think that a hundred years from now, church historians will be writing about this man and this book.
This book solved all my epistemological crises. It also does much to resolve the tension Christians feel as the culture around them becomes increasingly post modern. Every emergent so and so should read this immediately. So should anyone who wrestles with certainty or asks if truth is knowable at all.
I better stop typing now. You all have got some reading to do.
12.5.05
The earth is hard, the treasure fine.
My wife recently alphabatized our cd collection (which is no small feat) and so I've had the renewed pleasure of browsing through my own forgotten treasures. I thought perhaps I'd feature a forgotten classic or two from time to time.
This album is so good, and has such a special place in my heart I can't even find the words to describe it. It is simply a masterpiece. Many of you who hear it for the first time may disagree. I fully admit that I cannot divorce the memories formed around this of this album from the music itself. So I will not try. The two are fused forever in my psyche. If you don't own it, don't bother looking for it. It's been out of print for years and anyone who has it is not likely to give it up.
If anyone remembers this album, please leave your comments. I'm interested to know how your opinion of it has changed over the years. I'll be surprised if even two of you out there have ever listened to it.
Gene Eugene, Adam Again's lead singer and songwriter helped engineer Over the Rhine's third album "Eve" and is listed in teh liner notes under his real name, Gene Andrusco. Here's part of an essay about Gene.
"Gene's music was intensely personal, and this combined with genius is what turned many of his listeners into fanatics. I am convinced that Adam Again fans were Adam Again fans at least in part because to some degree they identified with his struggles, disappointments, and rare glimpses of peace and joy. His embrace of fragile humanity, with its many faults, led to extremely sensitive and insightful work. He may not have been a friend, but to many of us, he was a comrade, a fellow traveler who understood our tough journey more than many of our personal friends ever could. He saw what we saw; he knew the earth is largely an open sore. Like Mark Heard, he faced much rejection for painting pictures of the world as he knew it, not as he wanted it to be.
Some find this depressing. Fine. Some see a nicer place outside their window, and Gene's music is a grim intrusion upon that view. For most of us, however, Gene inspired in ways 'inspirational' music is impotent to inspire. Gene sang of our stupid, useless world, its loveless limits, and its wounded citizens that wound in return for past pains (ourselves included), yet Gene also had the courage to declare that he wasn't going to simply sit back and watch it all crumble around him. He was going to dig for something of value under the dung around him. This die-hard determination, and yes, this faith that something of value MUST lie underneath the ruins, this is what I believe inspired so many of us fans and lifted us like so little could.
As I mentioned, his death was about a year ago Tuesday. Adam Again is still much too obscure to even be considered a cult band, and most of their recordings are now out of print. It is probable that history will march on over Gene's grave without even noticing his headstone.
It's our loss."
And here are some lyrics from Dig...
I had a big idea, I had a lazy eye
I broke the sacred seal, I told a crazy lie
I've had my conscience bent, I've had my patience tried
I've been down in the desert and up by the riverside
Will the eagle fly if the sky's untrue?
Do the faithful sigh because they are so few?
Remeber when I cried? Remember when you knew?
Remember the look in your eyes? I know I do
And count the stars to measure time, the earth is hard, the treasure fine
To the sea I'll crawl on my knees
Feel it coming in, Feel it going out
Water covers sand, blood covers doubt
So I begin again, Again the healing bow
There was a time I might have surrendered, but not now
To the sea I'll crawl on my knees
To the sea I'll crawl on my knees
At the sea, I'll wait on my knees.
This album is so good, and has such a special place in my heart I can't even find the words to describe it. It is simply a masterpiece. Many of you who hear it for the first time may disagree. I fully admit that I cannot divorce the memories formed around this of this album from the music itself. So I will not try. The two are fused forever in my psyche. If you don't own it, don't bother looking for it. It's been out of print for years and anyone who has it is not likely to give it up.
If anyone remembers this album, please leave your comments. I'm interested to know how your opinion of it has changed over the years. I'll be surprised if even two of you out there have ever listened to it.
Gene Eugene, Adam Again's lead singer and songwriter helped engineer Over the Rhine's third album "Eve" and is listed in teh liner notes under his real name, Gene Andrusco. Here's part of an essay about Gene.
"Gene's music was intensely personal, and this combined with genius is what turned many of his listeners into fanatics. I am convinced that Adam Again fans were Adam Again fans at least in part because to some degree they identified with his struggles, disappointments, and rare glimpses of peace and joy. His embrace of fragile humanity, with its many faults, led to extremely sensitive and insightful work. He may not have been a friend, but to many of us, he was a comrade, a fellow traveler who understood our tough journey more than many of our personal friends ever could. He saw what we saw; he knew the earth is largely an open sore. Like Mark Heard, he faced much rejection for painting pictures of the world as he knew it, not as he wanted it to be.
Some find this depressing. Fine. Some see a nicer place outside their window, and Gene's music is a grim intrusion upon that view. For most of us, however, Gene inspired in ways 'inspirational' music is impotent to inspire. Gene sang of our stupid, useless world, its loveless limits, and its wounded citizens that wound in return for past pains (ourselves included), yet Gene also had the courage to declare that he wasn't going to simply sit back and watch it all crumble around him. He was going to dig for something of value under the dung around him. This die-hard determination, and yes, this faith that something of value MUST lie underneath the ruins, this is what I believe inspired so many of us fans and lifted us like so little could.
As I mentioned, his death was about a year ago Tuesday. Adam Again is still much too obscure to even be considered a cult band, and most of their recordings are now out of print. It is probable that history will march on over Gene's grave without even noticing his headstone.
It's our loss."
And here are some lyrics from Dig...
I had a big idea, I had a lazy eye
I broke the sacred seal, I told a crazy lie
I've had my conscience bent, I've had my patience tried
I've been down in the desert and up by the riverside
Will the eagle fly if the sky's untrue?
Do the faithful sigh because they are so few?
Remeber when I cried? Remember when you knew?
Remember the look in your eyes? I know I do
And count the stars to measure time, the earth is hard, the treasure fine
To the sea I'll crawl on my knees
Feel it coming in, Feel it going out
Water covers sand, blood covers doubt
So I begin again, Again the healing bow
There was a time I might have surrendered, but not now
To the sea I'll crawl on my knees
To the sea I'll crawl on my knees
At the sea, I'll wait on my knees.
Hound Dogs's
This past week a good friend of ours packed up and moved off to New York City to pursue her dream of designing with the big wigs. She's quited talented and landed a job right away. Her significant other threw one heck of a send-off at Hound Dogs (which just happens to be my favorite eating-drinking-music listening establishment in the whole wide world). Here's a picture of Molly and Charity under the big Hound Dogs mural. The rest of the photos below are from the same evening. You shoulda been there. Maybe you were.
11.5.05
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BIRTY!!!!!
Hey everybody. Click the title of this post to dart on over to birty's blog and wish Mr. Birt a happy birthday. He's 28 years old today (as far as you know). He's been my friend for about 20 years. First guy I told when I bought Charity's engagement ring. First friend I called when we found out we were with child for the first time. Sat next to him in nearly every class from seventh grade 'til graduation and then even went to the same undergraduate institution. Happy birthday, Birt. You da man.
BB vs LXX
Today I killed a bumble bee with the septuagint.
I bet I'm the only person who ever said that sentence.
I bet I'm the only person who ever said that sentence.
8.5.05
7.5.05
6.5.05
Charity's Grandpa
Charity's grandpa passed away earlier this month. He was a very hardworking Christian man. He lived well into his eighties and worked hard up until the very end. He passed away while mowing the lawn. Death is never good, but he did have a long, full and healthy life until the last.
Earlier this year he had suffered a heartattack and doctors suggested that he undergo surgery. He declined, as the risks involved being bed ridden for the rest of his life. He wanted no part of that. He was able to make such a decision, because there is something he valued more than life itself and he knew his hope lay beyond this life. Well, he has seen his Hope face to face, now.
My friend Molly took this photo when Charity's family was at Grace Central for Sam's baptism. Grandpa is the one rockin' the plaid jacket and bolo tie.
Earlier this year he had suffered a heartattack and doctors suggested that he undergo surgery. He declined, as the risks involved being bed ridden for the rest of his life. He wanted no part of that. He was able to make such a decision, because there is something he valued more than life itself and he knew his hope lay beyond this life. Well, he has seen his Hope face to face, now.
My friend Molly took this photo when Charity's family was at Grace Central for Sam's baptism. Grandpa is the one rockin' the plaid jacket and bolo tie.
5.5.05
What's Rockin' the Reverend?
About a month ago I bought an album by a guy from Seattle named Aaron Sprinkle. His name sounded familiar and it was in the cut out bin for three bucks and the album cover reminded me vaguely of some old Japanese prints I use to admire way back in my undergrad art history courses and so I rolled the dice. Much to my good fortune they came up snake eyes! Actually I don't even know what that means other than I think snake eyes is a good thing when rolling dice, isn't it? Well if its not, then forget that metaphor and replace it with your own that means something good happened when you took a risk. Because something good happened. Aaron Sprinkle made a good record and I bought it for three dollars. This guy has a real knack for writing bouncy, memorable melodies that aren't cheesy. In all his happy songs there is a hint of melancholy and in every sad song there is a glimpse of hope. I think that can be said of most skilled songwriters. That's the way it should be anyway, I mean that's the way life is most of the time.
After listening for a while I rememered where I knew him from. I already have one of his albums from five or six years ago and I forgot about it. This is a sure indication that I have far too many cd's. But my friend birty has even more so that will be my justification. Birty and I often speak about life and the world and we've often discussed the desire to simplfy our lives. To reduce. But when we say that we never mean music.
I'm rambling because I've not eaten lunch and my blood sugar is low and my brain is getting all skittish and goofy. So if this post annoys you I'm sorry. Bring me a sandwhich or something.
Soooo- Check out this album by Aaron Sprinkle called Lackluster and see what you think. It's just good ol' poppy rock and roll right up the middle. It's not gonna change your life (like say, Radiohead's The Bends, or u2's Joshua Tree, or Paul Simon's Graceland, or Over the Rhine's Good Dog Bad Dog: the Home Recordings, or Bob Dylan's eight minute spoken word poem Last thoughts On Woody Guthrie, or John Lee Hooker's Real Folk Blues, or Neutral Milk Hotel's in an Aeroplane Over the Sea, or Guided By Voices Bee Thousand, or My Bloody Valentine's Loveless, or Arcade Fire's Funeral, or the Bealtes' Sgt. Pepper, or the Actual Hoots Of Joy's legendary live performance in Upland, Indiana circa 1995, or the first time you heard Led Zepplin, or everything Neil Diamond ever recorded, that last part was sarcasm) but it is a good record of good songs. No frills. Melody, harmony, guitars and hooks. That stuff never goes out of style. Neither do sandwhiches. Which by they way, where's that sandwhich I ordered like ten minutes ago? Geez.
This is coming out of your tip.
After listening for a while I rememered where I knew him from. I already have one of his albums from five or six years ago and I forgot about it. This is a sure indication that I have far too many cd's. But my friend birty has even more so that will be my justification. Birty and I often speak about life and the world and we've often discussed the desire to simplfy our lives. To reduce. But when we say that we never mean music.
I'm rambling because I've not eaten lunch and my blood sugar is low and my brain is getting all skittish and goofy. So if this post annoys you I'm sorry. Bring me a sandwhich or something.
Soooo- Check out this album by Aaron Sprinkle called Lackluster and see what you think. It's just good ol' poppy rock and roll right up the middle. It's not gonna change your life (like say, Radiohead's The Bends, or u2's Joshua Tree, or Paul Simon's Graceland, or Over the Rhine's Good Dog Bad Dog: the Home Recordings, or Bob Dylan's eight minute spoken word poem Last thoughts On Woody Guthrie, or John Lee Hooker's Real Folk Blues, or Neutral Milk Hotel's in an Aeroplane Over the Sea, or Guided By Voices Bee Thousand, or My Bloody Valentine's Loveless, or Arcade Fire's Funeral, or the Bealtes' Sgt. Pepper, or the Actual Hoots Of Joy's legendary live performance in Upland, Indiana circa 1995, or the first time you heard Led Zepplin, or everything Neil Diamond ever recorded, that last part was sarcasm) but it is a good record of good songs. No frills. Melody, harmony, guitars and hooks. That stuff never goes out of style. Neither do sandwhiches. Which by they way, where's that sandwhich I ordered like ten minutes ago? Geez.
This is coming out of your tip.
4.5.05
Nic Armstrong & The Thieves is the greatest rock and roll band in the world ever, at least this afternoon anyway.
Of course my assessment of things like "greatest rock and roll band in the world ever" changes on a regular basis. But for right now... just this moment, they are the greatest ever. Check them out!
3.5.05
Deep Thoughts - by Jack Handy
If they ever come up with a swashbuckling School, I think one of the courses should be Laughing, Then Jumping Off Something.
God and Mowing
Mowing the lawn has to be my all time least favorite religious activity to engage in. And I imagine it will remain so unless and until I am ever martyred for my faith. Even then it would be a close call. So I wrote the post below to make it fun and exciting.
(And yes, mowing the lawin IS a religious activity. It is inherently theological. Discuss...)
(And yes, mowing the lawin IS a religious activity. It is inherently theological. Discuss...)
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