Videos of Michael Frost on being missional Saturday, December 01, 2007 |
Labels: faith, missiology, missional community, video
Hey there. Why don't we get a little more intimate with each other? Tuesday, November 27, 2007 |
Is there anything more intimate than one's personal life soundtrack? I don't think there is. Okay, well, I think I'm ready to take our relationship to the next level my bloggy friend and share mine with you.
Since my life is constantly evolving, my life soundtrack will probably evolve too, so check back every once in a while for updates.
Since my life is constantly evolving, my life soundtrack will probably evolve too, so check back every once in a while for updates.
Labels: fun
a dedication to anyone who has ever needed a friend... Saturday, January 06, 2007 |
I was born to laugh
I learned to laugh though my tears
I was born to love
I'm gonna learn to love without fear
Pour me a glass of wine
Talk deep into the night
Who knows what we'll find
Intuition, deja-vu
The Holy Ghost haunting you
Whatever you got
I don't mind
Put your elbows on the table
I'll listen long as I am able
There's nowhere I'd rather be
Secret fears, the supernatural
Thank God for this new laughter
Thank God the joke's on me
We've seen the landfill rainbow
We've seen the junkyard of love
Baby it's no place for you and me
I was born to laugh
I learned to laugh through my tears
I was born to love
I'm gonna learn to love without fear
Labels: poetry
songs for a revolution... |
I made it down to the pub tonight to hear my buddy David play some live music. I came early and brought my laptop so I can do some blogging. He's on a break right now, so I decided to open up the ol laptop and take a second to share his set list with you. Because it's INCREDIBLE!!! Some of my friends and I have been asking ourselves what sort of dangerous songs that we might sing if we were to lead a social/spiritual revolution... Well, Dave has inspired me. Songs of a revolution.... that's Dave for you. He's amazing. If you don't "get it," that's ok... I'm very aware of how "out there" I might seem to you... LOL...
mayonaise by Smashing Pumpkins
Fool enough to almost be it
Cool enough to not quite see it
Doomed
Pick your pockets full of sorrow
And run away with me tomorrow
June
We'll try and ease the pain
But somehow we'll feel the same
Well, no one knows
Where our secrets go
I send a heart to all my dearies
When your life is so, so dreary
Dream
I'm rumored to the straight and narrow
While the harlots of my perils
Scream
And I fail
But when I can, I will
Try to understand
That when I can, I will
Mother weep the years I'm missing
All our time can't be given
Back
Shut my mouth and strike the demons
That cursed you and your reasons
Out of hand and out of season
Out of love and out of feeling
So bad
When I can, I will
Words defy the plans
When I can, I will
Fool enough to almost be it
And cool enough to not quite see it
And old enough to always feel this
Always old, I'll always feel this
No more promise no more sorrow
No longer will I follow
Can anybody hear me
I just want to be me
When I can, I will
Try to understand
That when I can, I will
the times, they are a changin' by Bob Dylan
Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come senators, congressman
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he who gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
You old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.
The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.
a hard rain's gonna fall by Bob Dylan
Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son?
And where have you been, my darling young one?
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains,
I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways,
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests,
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans,
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard,
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard,
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it,
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it,
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin',
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin',
I saw a white ladder all covered with water,
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken,
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of a thunder that roared out a warnin',
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world,
I heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin',
I heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin',
I heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin',
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter,
I heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, what did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
And who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony,
I met a white man who walked a black dog,
I met a young woman whose body was burning,
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow,
I met one man who was wounded in love,
I met another man who was woundedin hatred,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
And what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
And what'll you do now, my darling young one?
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin',
I'll walk to the depths of the deepest dark forest,
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty,
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters,
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison,
And the executioner's face is always well hidden,
Where hunger is ugly, where the souls are forgotten,
Where black is the color, where none is the number,
And I'll tell it and speak itand think it and breathe it,
And reflect from the mountain so all souls can see it,
And I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin',
But I'll know my song well before I start singin',
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
high and dry by Radiohead
Two jumps in a week
I bet you think that's pretty clever don't you boy.
Flying on your motorcycle.
Watching all the ground beneath you drop.
You'd kill yourself for recognition.
Kill yourself to never ever stop.
You broke another mirror.
You're turning into something you are not.
Dont leave me high
dont leave me dry
Dont leave me high
dont leave me dry
Drying up in conversation
You will be the one who cannot talk.
All your insides fall to pieces.
You just sit there wishing you could still make love.
They're the ones who'll hate you when you think you've got the world all sussed out.
They're the ones who'll spit at you.
You will be the one screaming out.
Dont leave me high
dont leave me dry
Dont leave me high
dont leave me dry
Oh its the best thing that you ever had
Best thing that you ever ever had
Its the best thing that you ever had
Best thing you ever had has gone away
Dont leave me high
dont leave me dry
Dont leave me high
dont leave me dry
Dont leave me high
Dont leave me high
dont leave me dry
rivers of babylon traditional reggae song adapted by Sublime
By the rivers of Babylon
Where he sat down
And there he wept
When he remebered Zion
Oh from wicked, carry us away from captivity
Required from us a song
How can we singing out for song in a strange land
So let the words of our mouth
And the meditations of our hearts
Be acceptable in thy sight
Override
By the rivers of Babylyon
Where he sat down
And there he wept
When he remebered Zion
Oh from wicked, carry us away from captivity
Required from us a song
How can we singing out for song in a strange land
How can we singing out for song in a strange land
music that puts everything back together by Jason Webley
Instead of lyrics, I'll just let you listen for yourself!
AUDIO LINK
wish you were here by Pink Floyd
So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell,
blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail? A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?
And did they get you trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees? Hot air for a cold breeze?
Cold comfort for change? And did you exchange
a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl,
year after year,
running over the same old ground. What have we found?
The same old fears,
wish you were here.
hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
Now, I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this: the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
And she tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah
mayonaise by Smashing Pumpkins
Fool enough to almost be it
Cool enough to not quite see it
Doomed
Pick your pockets full of sorrow
And run away with me tomorrow
June
We'll try and ease the pain
But somehow we'll feel the same
Well, no one knows
Where our secrets go
I send a heart to all my dearies
When your life is so, so dreary
Dream
I'm rumored to the straight and narrow
While the harlots of my perils
Scream
And I fail
But when I can, I will
Try to understand
That when I can, I will
Mother weep the years I'm missing
All our time can't be given
Back
Shut my mouth and strike the demons
That cursed you and your reasons
Out of hand and out of season
Out of love and out of feeling
So bad
When I can, I will
Words defy the plans
When I can, I will
Fool enough to almost be it
And cool enough to not quite see it
And old enough to always feel this
Always old, I'll always feel this
No more promise no more sorrow
No longer will I follow
Can anybody hear me
I just want to be me
When I can, I will
Try to understand
That when I can, I will
the times, they are a changin' by Bob Dylan
Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come senators, congressman
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he who gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
You old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.
The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.
a hard rain's gonna fall by Bob Dylan
Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son?
And where have you been, my darling young one?
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains,
I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways,
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests,
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans,
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard,
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard,
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it,
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it,
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin',
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin',
I saw a white ladder all covered with water,
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken,
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of a thunder that roared out a warnin',
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world,
I heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin',
I heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin',
I heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin',
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter,
I heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, what did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
And who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony,
I met a white man who walked a black dog,
I met a young woman whose body was burning,
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow,
I met one man who was wounded in love,
I met another man who was woundedin hatred,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
And what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
And what'll you do now, my darling young one?
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin',
I'll walk to the depths of the deepest dark forest,
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty,
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters,
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison,
And the executioner's face is always well hidden,
Where hunger is ugly, where the souls are forgotten,
Where black is the color, where none is the number,
And I'll tell it and speak itand think it and breathe it,
And reflect from the mountain so all souls can see it,
And I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin',
But I'll know my song well before I start singin',
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
high and dry by Radiohead
Two jumps in a week
I bet you think that's pretty clever don't you boy.
Flying on your motorcycle.
Watching all the ground beneath you drop.
You'd kill yourself for recognition.
Kill yourself to never ever stop.
You broke another mirror.
You're turning into something you are not.
Dont leave me high
dont leave me dry
Dont leave me high
dont leave me dry
Drying up in conversation
You will be the one who cannot talk.
All your insides fall to pieces.
You just sit there wishing you could still make love.
They're the ones who'll hate you when you think you've got the world all sussed out.
They're the ones who'll spit at you.
You will be the one screaming out.
Dont leave me high
dont leave me dry
Dont leave me high
dont leave me dry
Oh its the best thing that you ever had
Best thing that you ever ever had
Its the best thing that you ever had
Best thing you ever had has gone away
Dont leave me high
dont leave me dry
Dont leave me high
dont leave me dry
Dont leave me high
Dont leave me high
dont leave me dry
rivers of babylon traditional reggae song adapted by Sublime
By the rivers of Babylon
Where he sat down
And there he wept
When he remebered Zion
Oh from wicked, carry us away from captivity
Required from us a song
How can we singing out for song in a strange land
So let the words of our mouth
And the meditations of our hearts
Be acceptable in thy sight
Override
By the rivers of Babylyon
Where he sat down
And there he wept
When he remebered Zion
Oh from wicked, carry us away from captivity
Required from us a song
How can we singing out for song in a strange land
How can we singing out for song in a strange land
music that puts everything back together by Jason Webley
Instead of lyrics, I'll just let you listen for yourself!
AUDIO LINK
wish you were here by Pink Floyd
So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell,
blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail? A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?
And did they get you trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees? Hot air for a cold breeze?
Cold comfort for change? And did you exchange
a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl,
year after year,
running over the same old ground. What have we found?
The same old fears,
wish you were here.
hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
Now, I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this: the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
And she tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Labels: poetry
guest blog from søren |
Last night, I had dinner with an old friend. It's been a while since we've hung out, but it was as if no time had passed and it was great. We decided to go to the Temple Bar... I got a tuna melt pannini with a side salad, Søren decided to have the same. Followed by doppio cappuccinos, the two of us talked about faith, art, culture, revolution, long into the night. If one thing can be said about my comrad Søren, he certainly puts a fire in my belly. I mentioned my blog to him, and he was excited to hear that I've been writing. Søren is a blogger as well, and he has actually compiled the years of his anecdotes, illustrations, rants, and musings into a number of books that have been published and they've actually sold quite well over the years. He was sharing how much controversy they've raised, and even showed me some of the hate mail that he's received from his readers. It's pretty crazy!
So, I asked him if he wouldn't mind doing a guest blog for me... He was quite excited for the opportunity... so.. without futher adeu.... I present Søren Kierkegaard.... (***riotous applause***... ***cheers***... ***fists pumping in the air- shouting "WHO! WHO! WHO! WHO!***... aaaaaand..... silence. *cough* )
So, I asked him if he wouldn't mind doing a guest blog for me... He was quite excited for the opportunity... so.. without futher adeu.... I present Søren Kierkegaard.... (***riotous applause***... ***cheers***... ***fists pumping in the air- shouting "WHO! WHO! WHO! WHO!***... aaaaaand..... silence. *cough* )
-only a single one
O Luther, thou hadst 95 theses- terrible! And yet, in a deeper sense, the more theses, the less terrible. This case is far more terrible: there is only one thesis.
The Christianity of the New Testament simply does not exist. Here there is nothing to reform; what has to be done is to throw light upon a criminal offense against Christianity, prolonged through centuries, perpetrated by millions (more or less guiltily), whereby they have cunningly, under the guise of perfecting Christianity, sought little by little to cheat God out of Christianity, and have succeeded in making Christianity exactly the opposite of what it is in the New Testament.
In order that the common Christianity here in our country, the official Christianity, may be said truly to be even so much as related to the Christianity of the New Testament, we must make it known, as honestly, as openly, as solemnly as possible, how remote it is from the Christianity of the New Testament, and how little it can truly be called an endeavor in the direction of coming nearer to the Christianity of the New Testament.
So long as this is not done, so long as we either make as if nothing were the matter, as if everything were all right, and what we call "Christianity" is the Christianity of the New Testament, or we perform artful tricks to conceal the difference, tricks to support the appearance that it is the Christianity of the New Testament- so long as this Christian criminal offense continues, there can be no question of reforming, but only of throwing light upon this Christian criminal offense.
And to say a word about myself: I am not what the age perhaps demands, a reformer- that by no means, nor a profound speculative spirit, a seer, a prophet; no (pardon me for saying it), I am in a rare degree an accomplished detective talent. What marvelous coincidence that I am contemporary precisely with that period of Church history which, in a modern sense, is the period of "witnesses to the truth," when all are "holy witnesses to the truth."
-Søren Kierkegaard (January 26, 1855)
For further reading: Read this for more information on IWA communities & ADH organizations
Labels: faith
engaging the darkness... |
AUDIO LINK
Download
Nigel Goodwin and the Kindling Muse crew discuss whether Christian artists should be exploring issues of darkness, and the implications of that in light of the mission Christ presents: by engaging in the dark, rather than retreating from it.
Labels: faith
struggling through opiate withrawls... and learning to pray Friday, January 05, 2007 |
My friend and I were talking today about a Tool song called "Opiate." I was thinking about how difficult it was for me to leave religion... looking back, I guess it was kind of like going through opium withdrawls... Even today, I still find myself reverting back to ritual and dogma. I have to constantly be mindful of my tendancies to turn back to these old friends.
Such a good song... gets me really thinking... if you wanna really blow your mind, here's another song by Maynard that he calls "Thomas" Check it out, it's a pretty different perspective from Opiate. Opiate is deconstructive, and Thomas on the other hand is quite humble and relationally driven. I like how he's not all one-sided... you know.. he's not ONLY deconstructive with the music he writes. The catch is, you might not get the full picture of where he's coming from if you only listen to one song independent of his others. That's a mistake that a lot of people make about him and then jump to false conclusions.
I was reading Kierkegaard tonight and realized that he was sort of like the Maynard of his time, the spiritual people were intrigued by him and the religious ones hated and feared him. Many of the religious people of Kierkegaard's time could not get it out of their minds that he was walking away from Christ, when in fact, he was walking away from the pagan religion that had taken the name of Christ, but retained nothing of any resemblance to Christ. He deeply desired to be with Christ. But he had realized how far away from Christ the church had evolved. His entire message was that there was and always will be a need to sluff off all the unnecessary religiosity that only gets in the way of a humble, honest, and vulnerable relationship with God.
I digress... enjoy "Thomas" by A Perfect Circle
Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people.
Karl Marx, Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right
German economist & Communist political philosopher (1818 - 1883)
AUDIO LINK
Download
Choices always were a problem for you.
What you need is someone strong to guide you.
Deaf and blind and dumb and born to follow,
what you need is someone strong to guide you...
like me,
like me.
If you want to get your soul to heaven,
trust in me.
Don't judge or question.
You are broken now,
but faith can heal you.
Just do everything I tell you to do.
Deaf and blind and dumb and born to follow.
Let me lay my holy hand upon you.
My God's will
becomes me.
When he speaks out,
he speaks through me.
He has needs
like I do.
We both want
to rape you.
Jesus Christ, why don't you come save my life.
Open my eyes and blind me with your light
Such a good song... gets me really thinking... if you wanna really blow your mind, here's another song by Maynard that he calls "Thomas" Check it out, it's a pretty different perspective from Opiate. Opiate is deconstructive, and Thomas on the other hand is quite humble and relationally driven. I like how he's not all one-sided... you know.. he's not ONLY deconstructive with the music he writes. The catch is, you might not get the full picture of where he's coming from if you only listen to one song independent of his others. That's a mistake that a lot of people make about him and then jump to false conclusions.
I was reading Kierkegaard tonight and realized that he was sort of like the Maynard of his time, the spiritual people were intrigued by him and the religious ones hated and feared him. Many of the religious people of Kierkegaard's time could not get it out of their minds that he was walking away from Christ, when in fact, he was walking away from the pagan religion that had taken the name of Christ, but retained nothing of any resemblance to Christ. He deeply desired to be with Christ. But he had realized how far away from Christ the church had evolved. His entire message was that there was and always will be a need to sluff off all the unnecessary religiosity that only gets in the way of a humble, honest, and vulnerable relationship with God.
I digress... enjoy "Thomas" by A Perfect Circle
AUDIO LINK
Download
Humble and helpless and learning to pray
Praying for visions to show me the way
Show me the way to forgive you
Allow me to let it go
Allow me to be forgiven and
Show me the way to let go
Show me the way to forgive you
Allow me to let it go
Allow me to be forgiven and
Show me the way to let go
Illuminate me and
Illuminate me and
Illuminate the way and just
Praying for you to show me where to begin
Hopin' to
Hopin' to
Hopin' to
Hopin' to
Reconnect
With you (Hopin' to)
Reconnect
With. . . .
we're gonna go where we can shine Monday, January 01, 2007 |
Happy new year!
January 1st is a day that draws many of us inward, into those deeper thoughts of the meanings of life, to think about this life, smile, celebrate, mourn, wonder... Whether it's the hangover, the lack of sleep, or the fact that everything is closed today, all around me I have noticed that the pace of life has slowed considerably.
Tonight, I've retired to the dark corner of a run-down, shabby little diner (pretty much the only thing open in Bellingham at 11pm). I've come here to drink the bad coffee, watch the other diners, and figure out the meaning of life. I'm listening to a song by David Gray called "Shine." I keep hitting the back button, going over the lyrics again and again. This is such a beautiful song.
While I'm hoping to get to the whole meaning of life issue, I'm currently sidetracked by another thought: I'm thinking about all of the people that I've said goodbye to in my life. Thinking of my life as a book, and all the people who've walked by my side, and for what short time have woven the chapters of their stories with those of mine. I'm thankful for all of you and the beauty that you have shared with me, wherever you are out there. Why can't the most beautiful chapters continue forever? Why does there ever need to be an ending to something so beautiful?
I guess I've been working on answers to these questions for a while now. I still don't really know. But I'm starting to see, more and more, the beauty in goodbyes. David said it best: "We're gonna go where we can shine." It doesn't really make it any easier, but it's almost like these characters from my past are continuing to bless me... even in their absense... knowing the destiny that they will face... to shine... and I guess I like that idea.
Maybe it's the hangover, or the lack of sleep, or maybe it's just the time of year, but I want you all to know how much I love you. I'm not always very good at loving, but if I had a better idea how to, I would want to be able to express to all of you how much you've meant to me.
January 1st is a day that draws many of us inward, into those deeper thoughts of the meanings of life, to think about this life, smile, celebrate, mourn, wonder... Whether it's the hangover, the lack of sleep, or the fact that everything is closed today, all around me I have noticed that the pace of life has slowed considerably.
Tonight, I've retired to the dark corner of a run-down, shabby little diner (pretty much the only thing open in Bellingham at 11pm). I've come here to drink the bad coffee, watch the other diners, and figure out the meaning of life. I'm listening to a song by David Gray called "Shine." I keep hitting the back button, going over the lyrics again and again. This is such a beautiful song.
I can see it in your eyes
What I know in my heart is true
That our love it has faded
like the summer run through
So we'll walk down the shoreline
one last time together
Feel the wind blow our wanderin' hearts like a feather
But who knows what's waiting in the wings of time
Dry your eyes
We gotta go where we can shine
Don't be hiding in sorrow or clinging to the past
With your beauty so precious
and the season so fast
No matter how cold the horizon appear
or how far the first night
when I held you near
You gotta rise from these ashes
like a bird of flame
Step out of the shadow
we've gotta go where we can shine
For all that we struggle
for all we pretend
It don't come down to nothing
except love in the end
And ours is a road
that is strewn with goodbyes
And as it unfolds
as it all unwinds
Remember your soul is the one thing you can't compromise
Take my hand
we're gonna go where we can shine
we're gonna go where we can shine
we're gonna go where we can shine
And look and look
Through the windows of midnight
moonfoam and silver
While I'm hoping to get to the whole meaning of life issue, I'm currently sidetracked by another thought: I'm thinking about all of the people that I've said goodbye to in my life. Thinking of my life as a book, and all the people who've walked by my side, and for what short time have woven the chapters of their stories with those of mine. I'm thankful for all of you and the beauty that you have shared with me, wherever you are out there. Why can't the most beautiful chapters continue forever? Why does there ever need to be an ending to something so beautiful?
I guess I've been working on answers to these questions for a while now. I still don't really know. But I'm starting to see, more and more, the beauty in goodbyes. David said it best: "We're gonna go where we can shine." It doesn't really make it any easier, but it's almost like these characters from my past are continuing to bless me... even in their absense... knowing the destiny that they will face... to shine... and I guess I like that idea.
Maybe it's the hangover, or the lack of sleep, or maybe it's just the time of year, but I want you all to know how much I love you. I'm not always very good at loving, but if I had a better idea how to, I would want to be able to express to all of you how much you've meant to me.
The forgotten ways... Saturday, December 30, 2006 |
I don't usually get feedback for my posts on faith and what it means to me to know Christ, so I'm not sure if any of you would be interested in this... but I've discovered an incredible opportunity for anyone who is interested in exilic faith communities. Some great guys from around the world are teaming up to lead an online learning community. They'll be presenting some curriculum based off of a book called "The Forgotten Ways" by Alan Hirsch. From the looks of it, this should be an awesome class. It's a 6 month intensive training course, online, and the cost is $650. Those who sign up will be in placed in groups with a dozen or so other students and a handful of instructor/facilitators. It looks like it will be very practical and each student will get one-on-one coaching. Assignments will be real-world based, and not just theoretical. So, I imagine it will be quite amazing!
Check out the first chapter of The Forgotten Ways here.
Check out the first chapter of The Forgotten Ways here.
Labels: faith
probably the best show ever... Thursday, December 28, 2006 |
(not counting Arrested Development ~obviously~) If you haven't seen the american version of the tv show "The Office" then you really should clear some space in your schedule, becuase you've got a lot of catching up to do. I found a website where you can watch every episode for free, so click here for season 1, episode 1. Click here for all of them.
Here's a clip from season three to wet your appetite:
Here's a clip from season three to wet your appetite: