11.9.05
Another reason I love my church.
Church. You know the deal. Musty old building. Bad lighting. Churchy hymns. Sermons that drone on and on. And little old ladies that knit pretty little mittens for the pastor's children. Most of that describes my church as well. Except that when ladies knit sweaters for my children they are safety orange with skulls and cross bones on them.
RIGHT ON! Thanks Nicole. Sammy loves it.
RIGHT ON! Thanks Nicole. Sammy loves it.
10.9.05
7.9.05
Something I just read...
"We don't always act as if we have access to an infinite and free source of endless creativity, because the obvious, the trite, and the cliche are safer than mystery and open-ended assertions. But Christians ought to exhibit an innate creativity if they are truly expressing the creative image of the Creator." - Karen L. Mulder, arts editor for Christianity Today
Recommended Listening: Half Handed Cloud
Here are some quotes from recent reviews. Click the link to listen to tracks on the website. Hope it makes you curious:
Who writes 25 songs that average less than a minute apiece? Who releases a CD that features piano, banjo, flute, drums, a power saw, French horn, tuba, rubber bands, birds chirping, kazoo, rubber duck, toy piano, and cello? Suffice it to say that John Ringhofer is wired a little differently than most of us. Much like Beck or Freedy Johnston, I can’t decide if he’s a talent waiting to be embraced by the mainstream or a schizophrenic madman recording his own personal insights for posterity.
Another reason you probably won’t see the Half-handed Cloud Vacation Bible School curriculum is the lyrics. They are incredibly Scriptural, ultimately pointing to God’s grace. However, these are not the family-friendly stories of the Bible; these are the “after-9 P.M.-on-broadcast-TV,” “rated M for mature audiences only” stories of the Bible.
So it's kind of like church, because there are all these Bible stories; but it's kind of like junior-high band, because too many instruments simultaneously are playing something somewhat-related; and kind of like college Astronomy, because sometimes I don't think anyone knows what the h-heck is going on. At any rate, it's an experience -- praise the Lord and pass the moonshine.
Who writes 25 songs that average less than a minute apiece? Who releases a CD that features piano, banjo, flute, drums, a power saw, French horn, tuba, rubber bands, birds chirping, kazoo, rubber duck, toy piano, and cello? Suffice it to say that John Ringhofer is wired a little differently than most of us. Much like Beck or Freedy Johnston, I can’t decide if he’s a talent waiting to be embraced by the mainstream or a schizophrenic madman recording his own personal insights for posterity.
Another reason you probably won’t see the Half-handed Cloud Vacation Bible School curriculum is the lyrics. They are incredibly Scriptural, ultimately pointing to God’s grace. However, these are not the family-friendly stories of the Bible; these are the “after-9 P.M.-on-broadcast-TV,” “rated M for mature audiences only” stories of the Bible.
So it's kind of like church, because there are all these Bible stories; but it's kind of like junior-high band, because too many instruments simultaneously are playing something somewhat-related; and kind of like college Astronomy, because sometimes I don't think anyone knows what the h-heck is going on. At any rate, it's an experience -- praise the Lord and pass the moonshine.
6.9.05
Over the Rhine Live at Little Brothers in Columbus, Ohio
Great show as usual. But I still miss Ric. Snapped this picture while we were there. Kinda ghostly, I think.
Funky Nostalgia: Top 100 of My Senior Year (wow, most of these really suck).
1. End Of The Road, Boyz II Men
2. Baby Got Back, Sir Mix A-lot
3. Jump, Kris Kross
4. Save The Best For Last, Vanessa Williams
5. Baby-Baby-Baby, TLC
6. Tears In Heaven, Eric Clapton
7. My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It), En Vogue
8. Under The Bridge, Red Hot Chili Peppers
9. All 4 Love, Color Me Badd
10. Just Another Day, Jon Secada
11. I Love Your Smile, Shanice
12. To Be With You, Mr. Big
13. I'm Too Sexy, Right Said Fred
14. Black Or White, Michael Jackson
15. Achy Breaky Heart, Billy Ray Cyrus 16.
16. I'll Be There, Mariah Carey
17. November Rain, Guns N' Roses
18. Life Is A Highway, Tom Cochrane
19. Remember The Time, Michael Jackson
20. Finally, CeCe Peniston
21. This Used To Be My Playground, Madonna
22. Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough, Patty Smyth
23. Can't Let Go, Mariah Carey
24. Jump Around, House Of Pain
25. Diamonds and Pearls, Prince and The N.P.G.
26. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me, George Michael and Elton John
27. Masterpiece, Atlantic Starr
28. If You Asked Me To, Celine Dion
29. Giving Him Something He Can Feel, En Vogue
30. Live and Learn, Joe Public
31. Come and Talk To Me, Jodeci
32. Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana
33. Humpin' Around, Bobby Brown
34. Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover, Sophie B. Hawkins
35. Tell Me What You Want Me To Do, Teven Campbell
36. Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg, TLC
37. It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday, Boyz II Men
38. Move This, Technotronic
39. Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen
40. Tennessee, Arrested Development
41. The Best Things In Life Are Free, Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson
42. Make It Happen, Mariah Carey
43. The One, Elton John
44. Set Adrift On Memory Bliss, P.M. Dawn
45. Stay, Shakespear's Sister
46. 2 Legit 2 Quit, Hammer
47. Please Don't Go, K.W.S.
48. Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes), Mint Condition
49. Wishing On A Star, Cover Girls
50. She's Playing Hard To Get, Hi-Five
51. I'd Die Without You, P.M. Dawn
52. Good For Me, Amy Grant
53. All I Want, Toad The Wet Sprocket
54. When A Man Loves A Woman, Michael Bolton
55. I Can't Dance, Genesis
56. Hazard, Richard Marx
57. Mysterious Ways, U2
58. Too Funky, George Michael
59. How Do You Talk To An Angel, Heights
60. One, U2
61. Keep On Walkin', CeCe Peniston
62. Hold On My Heart, Genesis
63. The Way I Feel About You, Karyn White
64. Beauty and The Beast, Calms Dion and Peabo Bryson
65. Warm It Up, Kris Kross
66. In The Closet, Michael Jackson
67. People Everyday, Arrested Development
68. No Son Of Nine, Genesis
69. Wildside, Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch
70. Do I Have To Say The Words?, Bryan Adams
71. Friday I'm In Love, Cure
72. Everything About You, Ugly Kid Joe
73. Blowing Kisses In The Wind, Paula Abdul
74. Thought I'd Died and Gone To Heaven, Bryan Adams
75. Rhythm Is A Dancer, Snap
76. Addams Groove, Hammer
77. Missing You Now, Michael Bolton
78. Back To The Hotel, N2Deep
79. Everything Changes, Kathy Troccoli
80. Have You Ever Needed Somone So Bad, Def Leppard
81. Take This Heart, Richard Marx
82. When I Look Into Your Eyes, Firehouse
83. I Wanna Love You, Jade
84. Uhh Ahh, Boyz II Men
85. Real Love, Mary J. Blige
86. Justified and Ancient, The KLF
87. Slow Motion, Color Me Badd
88. What About Your Friends, TLC
89. Thinkin' Back, Color Me Badd
90. Would I Lie To You?, Charles and Eddie
91. That's What Love Is For, Amy Grant
92. Keep Coming Back, Richard Marx
93. Free Your Mind, En Vogue
94. Keep It Comin', Keith Sweat
95. Just Take My Heart, Mr. Big
96. I Will Remember You, Amy Grant
97. We Got A Love Thang, CeCe Peniston
98. Let's Get Rocked, Def Leppard
99. They Want EFX, Das EFX
100. I Can't Make You Love Me, Bonnie Raitt
2. Baby Got Back, Sir Mix A-lot
3. Jump, Kris Kross
4. Save The Best For Last, Vanessa Williams
5. Baby-Baby-Baby, TLC
6. Tears In Heaven, Eric Clapton
7. My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It), En Vogue
8. Under The Bridge, Red Hot Chili Peppers
9. All 4 Love, Color Me Badd
10. Just Another Day, Jon Secada
11. I Love Your Smile, Shanice
12. To Be With You, Mr. Big
13. I'm Too Sexy, Right Said Fred
14. Black Or White, Michael Jackson
15. Achy Breaky Heart, Billy Ray Cyrus 16.
16. I'll Be There, Mariah Carey
17. November Rain, Guns N' Roses
18. Life Is A Highway, Tom Cochrane
19. Remember The Time, Michael Jackson
20. Finally, CeCe Peniston
21. This Used To Be My Playground, Madonna
22. Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough, Patty Smyth
23. Can't Let Go, Mariah Carey
24. Jump Around, House Of Pain
25. Diamonds and Pearls, Prince and The N.P.G.
26. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me, George Michael and Elton John
27. Masterpiece, Atlantic Starr
28. If You Asked Me To, Celine Dion
29. Giving Him Something He Can Feel, En Vogue
30. Live and Learn, Joe Public
31. Come and Talk To Me, Jodeci
32. Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana
33. Humpin' Around, Bobby Brown
34. Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover, Sophie B. Hawkins
35. Tell Me What You Want Me To Do, Teven Campbell
36. Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg, TLC
37. It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday, Boyz II Men
38. Move This, Technotronic
39. Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen
40. Tennessee, Arrested Development
41. The Best Things In Life Are Free, Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson
42. Make It Happen, Mariah Carey
43. The One, Elton John
44. Set Adrift On Memory Bliss, P.M. Dawn
45. Stay, Shakespear's Sister
46. 2 Legit 2 Quit, Hammer
47. Please Don't Go, K.W.S.
48. Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes), Mint Condition
49. Wishing On A Star, Cover Girls
50. She's Playing Hard To Get, Hi-Five
51. I'd Die Without You, P.M. Dawn
52. Good For Me, Amy Grant
53. All I Want, Toad The Wet Sprocket
54. When A Man Loves A Woman, Michael Bolton
55. I Can't Dance, Genesis
56. Hazard, Richard Marx
57. Mysterious Ways, U2
58. Too Funky, George Michael
59. How Do You Talk To An Angel, Heights
60. One, U2
61. Keep On Walkin', CeCe Peniston
62. Hold On My Heart, Genesis
63. The Way I Feel About You, Karyn White
64. Beauty and The Beast, Calms Dion and Peabo Bryson
65. Warm It Up, Kris Kross
66. In The Closet, Michael Jackson
67. People Everyday, Arrested Development
68. No Son Of Nine, Genesis
69. Wildside, Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch
70. Do I Have To Say The Words?, Bryan Adams
71. Friday I'm In Love, Cure
72. Everything About You, Ugly Kid Joe
73. Blowing Kisses In The Wind, Paula Abdul
74. Thought I'd Died and Gone To Heaven, Bryan Adams
75. Rhythm Is A Dancer, Snap
76. Addams Groove, Hammer
77. Missing You Now, Michael Bolton
78. Back To The Hotel, N2Deep
79. Everything Changes, Kathy Troccoli
80. Have You Ever Needed Somone So Bad, Def Leppard
81. Take This Heart, Richard Marx
82. When I Look Into Your Eyes, Firehouse
83. I Wanna Love You, Jade
84. Uhh Ahh, Boyz II Men
85. Real Love, Mary J. Blige
86. Justified and Ancient, The KLF
87. Slow Motion, Color Me Badd
88. What About Your Friends, TLC
89. Thinkin' Back, Color Me Badd
90. Would I Lie To You?, Charles and Eddie
91. That's What Love Is For, Amy Grant
92. Keep Coming Back, Richard Marx
93. Free Your Mind, En Vogue
94. Keep It Comin', Keith Sweat
95. Just Take My Heart, Mr. Big
96. I Will Remember You, Amy Grant
97. We Got A Love Thang, CeCe Peniston
98. Let's Get Rocked, Def Leppard
99. They Want EFX, Das EFX
100. I Can't Make You Love Me, Bonnie Raitt
2.9.05
How the chaos in New Orleans makes sense of your world.
We've all been seeing the same images and hearing the same stories this week as the media coverage of the chaos in New Orleans continues. As I attempt to process all the horrible details, I've asked myself, "How in the world can I make sense of this chaos?" After some reflection I began to see that I'd been asking the question the wrong way. I had it backwards. This mess in New Orleans makes sense of my world.
Sunday at Grace Central we'll pray for the victims of Katrina and find out how the chaos in New Orleans makes sense of our world. If you're in Columbus I hope you'll attend.
Follow the link for the time, location (click 'gatherings') & a map (click 'map').
Sunday at Grace Central we'll pray for the victims of Katrina and find out how the chaos in New Orleans makes sense of our world. If you're in Columbus I hope you'll attend.
Follow the link for the time, location (click 'gatherings') & a map (click 'map').
Church celebrates fifty years of peace through irrelevance
Pastors think this kind of stuff is hilarious. (Thanks for your patience).
A Sea Lion in a Baby Pool
Here is one of the very few fun stories to come out of the hurricane tragedy:
a 13-year-old sea lion that was washed out of the Marine Life Oceanarium, four miles away in Gulfport.
The sea lion was rescued by a couple during the height of the storm as it washed by their home in a huge tidal wave. Two days later, the two were keeping the sea lion, named Pocahontas, hydrated in a child's wading pool and fed it fish scavenged from the freezers of the empty homes around them.
a 13-year-old sea lion that was washed out of the Marine Life Oceanarium, four miles away in Gulfport.
The sea lion was rescued by a couple during the height of the storm as it washed by their home in a huge tidal wave. Two days later, the two were keeping the sea lion, named Pocahontas, hydrated in a child's wading pool and fed it fish scavenged from the freezers of the empty homes around them.
On the disintegration of civilization:
Something I read today...
"But the Hollywood notion of an overnight collapse is just as much of a fantasy; it makes for great screenplays but has nothing to do with the realities of how civilizations fall. The disintegration of a complex society takes decades, not days. Since fossil fuel production will decline gradually, not simply come to a screeching halt, the likely course of things is gradual descent rather than freefall. Civilizations go under in a rolling collapse punctuated by localized disasters, taking anything from one to four centuries to complete the process. It's not a steady decline, either; between sudden crises come intervals of relative stability, even moderate improvement; different regions decline at different paces; existing social, economic and political structures are replaced, not with complete chaos, but with transitional structures that may develop pretty fair institutional strength themselves."
"But the Hollywood notion of an overnight collapse is just as much of a fantasy; it makes for great screenplays but has nothing to do with the realities of how civilizations fall. The disintegration of a complex society takes decades, not days. Since fossil fuel production will decline gradually, not simply come to a screeching halt, the likely course of things is gradual descent rather than freefall. Civilizations go under in a rolling collapse punctuated by localized disasters, taking anything from one to four centuries to complete the process. It's not a steady decline, either; between sudden crises come intervals of relative stability, even moderate improvement; different regions decline at different paces; existing social, economic and political structures are replaced, not with complete chaos, but with transitional structures that may develop pretty fair institutional strength themselves."
1.9.05
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