Inspiration

Currently Reading
God Guides . Mary Geegh
This is not a book that tells one story from beginning to end, in the traditional sense. Rather, it's a collection of true stories, from Geegh's 38 years as a missionary in India, that tells of the power of Christ, as one submits to His leading through the "art" of listening prayer. It's a rather simple idea, yet so profound in its effect. I'm excited (and convicted at the same time) to begin this art; this method of strengthing my communion with my Creator. Highly recommended.

Currently Listening To
Peter Bradley Adams . I Cannot Settle Down - Sampler
A long-time reader of this blog would know that music is one of the major ways in which I believe the truths of God are impressed upon my heart. That being said, I'm always on the lookout (although not as actively as I once was) for that next artist or song that portrays such truth. I grabbed this sampler for free from NoiseTrade. If you don't know NoiseTrade, you should. And while I like all of the songs, there are two or three that just completely stop you in your tracks. They are just so beautiful, both the vocals and instrumentation, but yet very simple. Combine that with honest songwriting, and you've got me listening to these tracks on repeat for days on end.

Current Life Quote
"Accept His love for others, and His love from others, then His miracles can happen. For it is really Christ in others who reaches out to us."

-Mary Geegh

Audio«»Visual

LABYRINTH
salt
10.5' x 36'
Motoi Yamamoto

Javier Navarrete - Long, Long Time Ago [follow link to MP3]

Frank Wuestefeld . Unchain Me

Picking back up on my last post...

As I said before, the thing that really jumps out at me after watching this short documentary is the fact that it totally captures the passion that Scott Schumann has for what he does and how he lives his life.

Which begs some questions...

Is it just the lucky few in life who are able to make a living doing what they are passionate about? Or is it the fact that I refuse to live out the freedom (which I purport to find in Christ) in lieu of the lies of security and safeness found in my 9 to 5 job? Maybe I'm just supposed to chase down my passions as a hobby. You know, in all my spare time. Okay. But what happens when the life we have chained ourselves to gets in the way of following those God-seeded passions? I mean, the first things that usually get axed from our "lists" are our hobbies and passions, right? Why is that?

Am I the only one living like this?

Why do I [we] refuse the freedom in place of the familiar? 

Why do I [we] refuse the freedom in place of the security?

Why do I [we] live in chains?

"I don't see a hundred images a day that I'd wanna take, you know? I see two or three. So for me it's very easy to be patient and wait for those images; because that's just the way I thought it was supposed to be."

-Scott Schumann [aka The Sartorialist]

Other than the fact that I [secretly] want to either be a fashion designer [who can't sew/draw] or a photographer, what I like about this short documentary is the fact that it captures the passion that Scott Schumann has for what he does and how he lives his life.

Which begs some questions...but ones that I'm not prepared to speak aloud just yet.
So chew on this documentary for a bit and I'll be back at some point to discuss.

SMS[SHINE]

You know that feeling you get when you see (or read) something and you wish you could tell everyone in the whole wide world about it? Pretty much how I feel about this video. This is a 100% stop-motion video created using actual Lite-Brite pieces. Add in the fact that it was conceived, created, directed and photographed by the band and I literally feel like running to the nearest mountain top (or maybe mall) and shouting!

Praise the Lord for the David Crowder*Band -- these creative geniuses have been putting out material that honors their Creator for a long time. And they never cease to amaze me with their creativity. Such an inspiration.

And be sure and check out the inter-workings of how they made this video, its completly jaw-dropping. The Making of SMS[SHINE]: Part One . Part Two . Part Three . Part Four

twenty-ten in sound

Another crazy year in music for me. You know...it occurs to me that I still define normal (or typical) by the past. It's 2010 and time for me to realize that the music world of my college days (i.e. shopping in record stores and buying CDs) is just that -- a thing of the past -- and no longer the norm. So from here on out, I vow to just tell it like it is. I bought very little music again this year. I grab a few MP3s from various blogs and if something really speaks to me, I look into it further and do the digital download thing if so warranted. I still very much like a physical CD (and the album artwork that accompanies it) to hold in my hand, so I try and grab the "real thing" for those bits of music that are lifetime listens.

Enough of this small talk, let's get to the sounds of twenty-ten. Follow the link to the MP3s, and grab them quick because the links expire in 7 days. [And should you happen to show up on the 8th day (or after), just drop a comment or email and I'll be happy to refresh the links.]

Sufjan Stevens . Futile Devices
From Sufjan's new album, The Age of Adz, which continues to see Sufjan experiment with new layers of sound to complement his fragile and honest voice. I will always go to songs like Futile Devices, but its a really strong album from beginning to end for the simple fact that although Sufjan walks right up to the edge of a cliff with his experimentation, he never jumps off.

Derek Webb . Our Father In Heaven
Feedback is the album from which this song emanates -- it is truly a worshipful piece of art. Webb continues to push the envelope of how an artist who creates for the glory of God should be defined. What he created here is a classically composed, instrumental electronic album based on The Lord's Prayer. And in the age of the digital single, Webb gives us beautiful packing for the CD, complete with stand-alone (i.e. removable) art -- prints of photos and paintings -- that were specifically commissioned for the project. Without a doubt, Feedback is my album of the year.

Jónsi . Kolniður
Jónsi, frontman of the band Sigur Rós, branches out on his own to create a cosmic soundscape of a song that is equally-impressive as that of his band. Like a good movie that you never want to end, this track builds and builds, only to leave you hanging in the end (but in a good way).

Mumford & Sons . Awake My Soul
These guys got a lot of indie press this year. I can't buy into their whole album, but this song is an introspective foot-stomper (just wait till the end).

Katie Herzig . Beautiful Inside
I honestly don't know anything about this artist -- its just some quality, intelligent indie-pop.

Shad . Yaa I Get It
A new blip on my radar screen. This is a fine example of quality, underground hip-hop. Here's a guy who converses about topics other than girls, rims, bling and chasing the Hollywood lifestyle. So refreshing to the ears.

Dexter . The Future
A DJ/Producer that crafts one of the finest songs from others' samples since DJ Shadow. I remember the first time I heard it, and playing it on repeat for an hour or so -- its infectious!

Sleigh Bells . Kids
I spend a lot of time thinking -- whether it be at work or life in general. This song is the soundtrack for when I need a bit of downtime that requires no thinking whatsoever. Big beats. Grimy guitars. Distorted vocals. Yes, please!

Janelle Monáe . Tightrope
Again, not a whole lot of thinking required here, Monáe channels her best James Brown to bring a breath of fresh air to pop music. It was my song of the summer!

Cracker Jackson . Potty Time
Putting all my cred on the line here with this one...but as a new dad, I just had to throw this one on here. You may recall me giving this album some love earlier this year. It happened to come out around the time Tian was born. So in those first few weeks, when this song would randomly play, it just lifted our spirits, earning its way onto this small collection of year-end songs.


Previously: 08 IN SOUND . 2007 In Song . Six for '06

O Magnum Mysterium

O magnum mysterium [O great mystery]
et admirabile sacramentum [and wonderful sacrament]
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum [that animals should see the new-born Lord]
jacentem in praesepio [lying in a manger]

Beata Virgo, cujus viscera [Blessed is the Virgin whose womb]
meruerunt portare [was worthy to bear]
Dominum Christum [Christ the Lord]

Alleluia [Alleluia]

As you unravel the mystery of Christ's birth,
may it lead you to the truth of His cross.

Have a blessed Christmas.

And thank you for choosing to stop by here every so often.
My prayer is that you find this place to be a source of light, however small, along your journey. Much love...

refresh everything

Regular readers of this blog will probably recognize the name Miller Talbot from the numerous mentions I have made of him, his family and/or his blog, Toward Simplicity. He's a down-to-earth guy who loves the Lord and simply tries to live out Jesus' calling. About a year ago, Miller and his family moved to New Mexico to work with a new non-profit, Adylene's Hope, that was started to serve foster youth. I believe in Miller. And I believe in Adylene's Hope.

Anyway, they've been busy raising money and are now in the running for a major grant from Pepsi. The way they win this grant is by getting the most votes for their project. So I'm asking you to take a few seconds to vote for their project, and then share this info with all your friends/family via any of the social networks you partake in. Pepsi has a really slick website set up (as you would imagine) that makes all of this really simple. Just click the "Vote for this idea" button below to get started. And I urge you to bookmark the site and return to vote everyday in the month of December.

UPDATE: VOTING HAS ENDED.

polar opposite

So times with the little man have been eye-opening! 
With us choosing the natural, non-medicated labor and delivery route, and me playing a central role as coach in that, all of my time pre-Tian was devoted to learning the ins and outs of how to go about doing that.  I didn't want to be the guy who let his wife down in her time of great need.  I think about a week and a half before Angie's due date it dawned on me that I hadn't really read much of anything about taking care of the baby after his arrival.  We had Sears' The Baby Book, but it was thicker than our family-sized, King James Version bible! Our pediatrician gave us a little hand book during Tian's first hospital check-up.  And I have a great resource in my own mother, who has cared for her fair share of babies since my brother and I entered this world. 

But nothing can really prepare a guy for the times when this perfect little human who you named, and who shares your DNA, is crying at the top of his lungs (and I mean the TOP of his lungs) and you've run through the feed/burp/diaper-change/sharp-things-poking-him checklist (twice!) and bounced, rocked and swayed him every which way known to man (or at least to me). It's like the most helpless feeling in the world.  If I'm not passing him off to his mother (love you babe!), I'm clutching him tight and praying. 

The other item that stands out the most to me at this point is recognizing this polar opposite -- that my capacity to love has widened, but so has my selfishness. It's not like there's ever a convenient time to cry your lungs out, but somehow the voice (i.e. beast) inside me convinces me there is.  Or its like, "Hey little man, I'm trying to edit photos of you over here, give me a few more minutes (alone with my precious Photoshop!)."  And to tell you the truth, I don't want to be first anymore (except when its inconvenient to be second).

But the good news is that I'm a work in progress.  As is my heart.  I'm a child of God, something I share in common with my son. We are both loved by our Creator in such a way that pushes us to the brink of walking through this life in a manner that contradicts our very sin nature. In a way that breathes light and reveals His glory to those around us.  Praise the Lord for this life.  

This post was started on September 30 and completed today, November 4  

Intimacy[with Christ]

Some of you have truly been brought by God to believe in Jesus. Yet you have no abiding peace, and very little growth in holiness. Why is this? It is because your eye is fixed anywhere but on Christ. You are so busy looking at books, or looking at men, or looking at the world, that you have no time, no heart, for looking at Christ. No wonder you have little peace and joy in believing. No wonder you live so inconsistent and unholy a life. Change your plan. Consider the greatness and glory of Christ, who has undertaken all in the stead of sinners, and you would find it quite impossible to walk in darkness, or to walk in sin. Oh, what low, despicable thoughts you have of the glorious Immanuel! Lift your eyes from your own bosom, downcast believer - look upon Jesus. It is good to consider your ways, but it is far better to consider Jesus. Oh, believer, consider Jesus. Meditate on these things. Look and look again, until your peace flows like a river.

Robert Murray M’Cheyne

I'm always so torn when I read thoughts like these.  On one level, they cut straight to my heart and make so much sense to me.  But on another, more practical level, they seem so distant and unobtainable. For instance, how do I actually work this out in my life?  How can I take hold of this peace and joy that I know exists? I mean, I know I experience this peace and joy at times, but generally speaking, I have this sense that it is missing from my life -- is this the Spirit speaking truth into my heart, or am I just being too hard on myself and feeding the lies of Satan?  How do we measure this?  How should we?

I don't know the answer, but I'm reminded of a story that is only told in John's narrative of the gospel.  It occurs very late in Jesus' ministry on earth. He appears to his disciples for the third time after being raised from the dead, provides them with a large catch of fish and then shares a meal with them.

After the meal, Peter and Jesus share a moment together, alone. Jesus asks him, three times, "Do you love me?" After the third time, we are told that Peter is hurt, and we see that reflected in his answer: "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!" At this, Jesus responds, for the third time, "Feed my sheep" and then adds that Peter's life used to be his own; but now his life belongs to Jesus (and that Peter will die to glorify God).

And just as Jesus so instructs, John comes up behind them. Peter catches a glimpse of him and asks, "Lord, what about him?"  To which Jesus replies, "[His life] is not your business. You follow me" (emphasis added).


How quickly we lose sight of our Saviour.
How easily we turn to books and music and movies and magazines and various online portals (like this blog) for answers to satisfy the cravings of our souls.
How earnestly we seek to validate our own worth by comparing our actions to those of another.

All to which Jesus simply(?) replies, "You follow me."

I urge you to continue the discussion...