Ponder this...

This should make you smile!

47 years old.  Never been kissed.  Currently unemployed.  Check it out!

Being informed (transformed) by...

For the past two weeks I've been filling my mind with the work of two artists.  One is a singer/songwriter, the author is a Rabbi.

John Mark McMillan's latest CD "The Medicine" has gotten under my skin (Gene, Jim, Stewart you guys will dig his stuff). The first couple of listens seemed pretty average. Since then it has grown to be exceptional.  Some good depth - buy it on itunes. You'll be glad.  Here is one of his older songs that some churches are using during corporate worship.

Rabbi Lawrence Kushner is one of my favorite authors.  Funny, thoughtful and with just a enough of a different take on life to make me sit up and pay attention.  I just finished "Invisible Lines of Connection" and it has really helped me become... aware.

Well, here is something beautiful

Larry Norman dies

Larry Norman passed away today. Creative, different, troubled, fun and profound.  I've enjoyed his perspective and music for long time - a unique man who made a difference.

 

It may be the cold weather, the dryness in the air, or missing my baby sister, but I'm loving harmony these days - getting regular playtime -  Little Big Town and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

I've really been enjoying going for runs in Fish Creek Park this summer.  I don't think I realized how much I needed "green" in my life!  Here's the current playlist, nope, I don't make it through the whole list in one run.

Blessed Be the Name - Decemberadio
I Am Free - Newsboys
What I've done - Linkin Park
Boomin' - Tobymac
First Time - Lifehouse
Come to the Table - Leeland
Light up the Sky - Yellowcard
Miracle Maker - Delirious
Here With Me - Plumb
Tunnel - Third Day
Never too Late - Three Days Grace
Does Anybody Hear Her? - Casting Crowns
Mighty to Save - United
Home - Daugherty
Harder to Breathe - Maroon 5
The End - Matthew West
The Riddle - Five for Fighting
Wherever We Go - Newsboys

Local has always been important to my friend Gene.  He buys local most all the time.  No matter that it often costs more.  No matter that the quality may not be as good.  No matter even if the speed of service isn't as good.  For Gene, price, quality and speed come below the value of  "from among us."  Organic trumps price, taste and convenience.  Whether it's a restaurant, entertainment, or clothing or hardware he'll stick with local-made, or better yet, home-made.  He views his consumer choices a little bit like the way that I view my kids artwork on the fridge door.  It is valuable, not because it's the best in the world and not because others think it's particularly great - it's valuable because it's from "from among us."

One area where I'd like to inject the value of "local" is church music.  All worship leaders have values that guide their song choices. Some place a high value on a certain style.  Others place the highest value on the quality of the musical performance. Others value participation over performance.  I think it's time that we throw the concept of local in the mix of how we decide which songs and styles we sing.  It's time to insert "from among us" into how we define excellence in worship.  Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman are great writers but I would rather sing a song with less-deep theology and a less interesting tune that was written by someone whose story I know.   It's time that we started doing more of "our own stuff."  We need more songs from within the community.  I once heard Erwin McManus describe the worship music in his church as "refrigerator art" worship song selection.  I'm ready for a whole lot more of that.  I'll take personal over polish any day. 

Recently my friend Mike put out a great CD of original tunes  and I know a few others to whom God has given songs that our churches needs to be singing (Matt, Jana, Mac and Jim for starters).  Song crafting may be another one of the many areas where the church has left it to the "professionals" for so long that have begun to think that nothing else will do.  The sad result is that we are robbing ourselves of opportunities for creativity and authenticity. 

Here's one part of an interview with author Michael Frost that resonates with me and might get you interested...

You’ve also written about your distaste for “Jesus is my boyfriend” worship songs. Can Christian music be redeemed through contextual forms of music and meaningful lyrics?

I really hope so!  But I’m not a musician, so I write about this stuff as a disempowered critic. I have no ability to change it myself because I can’t write music or play an instrument. But I’m getting tired of singing love songs to Jesus-my-boyfriend. And frankly I feel silly when I have to sing songs so sentimental and cloying they could have been written for a 1990s boy band. As much as I’m loath to admit it these days, I’m not ‘in love with Jesus’ (for some people this might sound like blasphemy). But let’s be honest, I love my three daughters more deeply than I could ever imagine loving anyone, but I have never fallen in love with them. My love for them transcends the exciting, heady, temporary feelings of romantic love. Likewise with Jesus. I love him and am completely in his debt. But I’m not head over heals in romantic love with him. So it’s not singing that I don’t like. It’s the kind of singing that I’m expected to engage in. As much as this romanticising of worship bothers me, even more disturbing is the recent trend of singing worship songs in which I have to pledge my unfaltering devotion and service to him. You know, the ‘Jesus, I will never let you go...’ type song. In these songs I have to declare that I will follow him to the ends of the earth and that I will praise him all my days. In one sense, there’s nothing wrong with making such promises to God. The Psalmist does so on occasion. But frankly, I’m so much more comfortable with singing about the fact that Jesus has promised that he will never let me go. My promises seem hollow and unreliable. It’s God’s promises to me in Christ that are solid, reliable and unfaltering.

I sorely wish Christian musicians would write songs that help to sustain us as exiles, as foreigners in a forbidding country. We need songs that strengthen our resolve and inspire us to act. Not silly loves songs to Jesus.

I watched Canadian Idol last night.  It's down to the final 5 contestants.  Which means that the really funny stuff over, but that remaining singers have at least some talent.   I thought the best performance was by Chad Doucett who song a Gordon Lightfoot song.  He's got the kind of voice that you will immediately recognize.  They obviously recorded the performance because I heard it on two radio stations this mornings. 

It got me thinking about two other vocalists whose unique voices stick with me.  The first is the guy from Maroon 5.  What a voice.  The other that is likely my all-time favortie is Chris De Burgh.  So I pulled out a DVD of Chris De Burgh with just him and his guitar/piano.  Wow, that man can sing!  I can't watch or listen to his live version of "Borderline" without getting all emotional - and believe me I've tried!    Watching that DVD is an experience.  Not only is he a great singer and story-teller he communicates emotion better than just about anyone I've seen in concert.  When I watch him I feel creative, emotional and wanting more.  If he ever tours anywhere close...

Our friend Matt sent us his latest CD.   Sydney is addicted - she asks many times a day, "Daddy, can we PLEASE listen to Matt?" 

On the ipod

It may be the cold weather, the dryness in the air, or missing my baby sister, but I'm loving harmony these days - getting regular playtime -  Little Big Town and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

Run playlist

I've really been enjoying going for runs in Fish Creek Park this summer.  I don't think I realized how much I needed "green" in my life!  Here's the current playlist, nope, I don't make it through the whole list in one run.

Blessed Be the Name - Decemberadio
I Am Free - Newsboys
What I've done - Linkin Park
Boomin' - Tobymac
First Time - Lifehouse
Come to the Table - Leeland
Light up the Sky - Yellowcard
Miracle Maker - Delirious
Here With Me - Plumb
Tunnel - Third Day
Never too Late - Three Days Grace
Does Anybody Hear Her? - Casting Crowns
Mighty to Save - United
Home - Daugherty
Harder to Breathe - Maroon 5
The End - Matthew West
The Riddle - Five for Fighting
Wherever We Go - Newsboys

A local opinion

Local has always been important to my friend Gene.  He buys local most all the time.  No matter that it often costs more.  No matter that the quality may not be as good.  No matter even if the speed of service isn't as good.  For Gene, price, quality and speed come below the value of  "from among us."  Organic trumps price, taste and convenience.  Whether it's a restaurant, entertainment, or clothing or hardware he'll stick with local-made, or better yet, home-made.  He views his consumer choices a little bit like the way that I view my kids artwork on the fridge door.  It is valuable, not because it's the best in the world and not because others think it's particularly great - it's valuable because it's from "from among us."

One area where I'd like to inject the value of "local" is church music.  All worship leaders have values that guide their song choices. Some place a high value on a certain style.  Others place the highest value on the quality of the musical performance. Others value participation over performance.  I think it's time that we throw the concept of local in the mix of how we decide which songs and styles we sing.  It's time to insert "from among us" into how we define excellence in worship.  Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman are great writers but I would rather sing a song with less-deep theology and a less interesting tune that was written by someone whose story I know.   It's time that we started doing more of "our own stuff."  We need more songs from within the community.  I once heard Erwin McManus describe the worship music in his church as "refrigerator art" worship song selection.  I'm ready for a whole lot more of that.  I'll take personal over polish any day. 

Recently my friend Mike put out a great CD of original tunes  and I know a few others to whom God has given songs that our churches needs to be singing (Matt, Jana, Mac and Jim for starters).  Song crafting may be another one of the many areas where the church has left it to the "professionals" for so long that have begun to think that nothing else will do.  The sad result is that we are robbing ourselves of opportunities for creativity and authenticity. 

Frost on music

Here's one part of an interview with author Michael Frost that resonates with me and might get you interested...

You’ve also written about your distaste for “Jesus is my boyfriend” worship songs. Can Christian music be redeemed through contextual forms of music and meaningful lyrics?

I really hope so!  But I’m not a musician, so I write about this stuff as a disempowered critic. I have no ability to change it myself because I can’t write music or play an instrument. But I’m getting tired of singing love songs to Jesus-my-boyfriend. And frankly I feel silly when I have to sing songs so sentimental and cloying they could have been written for a 1990s boy band. As much as I’m loath to admit it these days, I’m not ‘in love with Jesus’ (for some people this might sound like blasphemy). But let’s be honest, I love my three daughters more deeply than I could ever imagine loving anyone, but I have never fallen in love with them. My love for them transcends the exciting, heady, temporary feelings of romantic love. Likewise with Jesus. I love him and am completely in his debt. But I’m not head over heals in romantic love with him. So it’s not singing that I don’t like. It’s the kind of singing that I’m expected to engage in. As much as this romanticising of worship bothers me, even more disturbing is the recent trend of singing worship songs in which I have to pledge my unfaltering devotion and service to him. You know, the ‘Jesus, I will never let you go...’ type song. In these songs I have to declare that I will follow him to the ends of the earth and that I will praise him all my days. In one sense, there’s nothing wrong with making such promises to God. The Psalmist does so on occasion. But frankly, I’m so much more comfortable with singing about the fact that Jesus has promised that he will never let me go. My promises seem hollow and unreliable. It’s God’s promises to me in Christ that are solid, reliable and unfaltering.

I sorely wish Christian musicians would write songs that help to sustain us as exiles, as foreigners in a forbidding country. We need songs that strengthen our resolve and inspire us to act. Not silly loves songs to Jesus.

The voice

I watched Canadian Idol last night.  It's down to the final 5 contestants.  Which means that the really funny stuff over, but that remaining singers have at least some talent.   I thought the best performance was by Chad Doucett who song a Gordon Lightfoot song.  He's got the kind of voice that you will immediately recognize.  They obviously recorded the performance because I heard it on two radio stations this mornings. 

It got me thinking about two other vocalists whose unique voices stick with me.  The first is the guy from Maroon 5.  What a voice.  The other that is likely my all-time favortie is Chris De Burgh.  So I pulled out a DVD of Chris De Burgh with just him and his guitar/piano.  Wow, that man can sing!  I can't watch or listen to his live version of "Borderline" without getting all emotional - and believe me I've tried!    Watching that DVD is an experience.  Not only is he a great singer and story-teller he communicates emotion better than just about anyone I've seen in concert.  When I watch him I feel creative, emotional and wanting more.  If he ever tours anywhere close...

Kid's react to Matt's new music

Our friend Matt sent us his latest CD.   Sydney is addicted - she asks many times a day, "Daddy, can we PLEASE listen to Matt?"