matt nissen [blog]

The Civil Wars in Portland

2010-12-30T13:50:00.001-08:00

Got to see The Civil Wars play at The Woods here in Portland a few weeks ago. It was a great show. Here's a video I took of their encore that night.

YouTube Video

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Jónsi... couple amazing perfomances

2010-11-04T19:53:00.000-07:00

Came across these today. Really great. This album is so good!

Jónsi - Go Do [Acoustic] - Live at Origami from plastic pearl on Vimeo.

Jónsi - Stars in Still Water [Acoustic] - Live at Origami Vinyl from plastic pearl on Vimeo.

At the Pumpkin Patch!

2010-10-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

David Crowder Band - SMS (Shine)

2010-10-21T13:25:00.000-07:00

The National - MFNW 2010

2010-09-17T16:14:00.000-07:00

Got to see The National play at Pioneer Square last week for Musicfest NW. It was a great show... found a couple of video on YouTube of it to post here. They are absolutely one of my favorite bands, and seeing them live for the first time was amazing.

Kings of Leon - Radioactive

2010-09-16T15:57:00.000-07:00

New Kings of Leon single. Sounds great... looking forward to the album!

If 40 is the New 30 Then is 20 the New Junior High?

2010-09-07T10:28:00.000-07:00

If 40 is the New 30 Then is 20 the New Junior High?

This is a great blog post by Donald Miller

John Mark McMillan - Death In His Grave

2010-09-06T17:31:00.000-07:00

The Promenade: Any Thoughts?

2010-09-06T17:27:00.000-07:00

The Promenade: Any Thoughts?: "'They would have to sing better songs for me to learn to have faith in their Redeemer'— Friedrich Nietzsche"

Mumford & Sons - Roll Away Your Stone

2010-09-01T23:17:00.000-07:00

I am so looking forward to this show

The Black Keys - Too Afraid To Love You

2010-08-29T17:08:00.000-07:00

I'm all about the Black Keys right now.
The new album Brothers is fantastic. Very old-school.

Poison & Wine - The Civil Wars

2010-08-27T17:01:00.000-07:00

This song is amazing... gives me chills every time I hear it

Eating Lunch

2010-08-26T12:58:00.000-07:00

Night Meetings 2010

2010-08-23T19:32:00.000-07:00

Long Beach

2010-08-22T19:29:00.000-07:00

My Girls

2010-08-22T16:55:00.000-07:00

The Voice Book Review

2010-03-27T21:36:00.000-07:00

I was recently sent a copy of a translation of the New Testament called “The Voice” by Thomas Nelson publishers. To clarify, this isn’t really a translation of the Bible, but more of an artistic interpretation of it. There’s lots of comments within the text from several modern Christian writers, like Chris Seay & Brian McLaren. It’s also written in more of a screenplay format, which makes it somewhat easier to follow along.

My opinion on it is this… if you take it for what it is, (a very modern retelling of the Bible), it’s great. I enjoyed reading it, and the poetic and artistic notes were a nice addition to the paraphrase. But it’s definitely not a translation of the Bible. I’m no expert when it comes to translations, but there is definitely a lot of liberties being taken with the text. And on one hand, it does bring many passages to a new light, but it’s not something to use for serious Bible study. And in all fairness, it doesn’t claim to be. It says that right in the introduction.

So overall I enjoyed The Voice, and I look forward to reading more from it. It’s a nice addition to other versions of the New Testament that are out there. I also think it will be a good tool to have as a worship leader, especially when looking for new and creative ways to express God’s love within the context of worship.

The Gospel According to Lost Book Review

2010-02-26T15:44:00.000-08:00

Since I am a big fan of the show Lost, I was looking forward to reading this book. I hadn't read any of Chris Seay's books before, so I was interested in what this one would be like. (He's written another book like this before, The Gospel According to Tony Soprano).

The book is laid out with each chapter focusing on one of the characters on the show and their story over the first 5 seasons. There are also a couple of stand alone chapters that focus more on the overall show, such as the relationship and tension between Jack & Locke.

Anyone who has seen the show knows that it's full of biblical references and allegories, and this book takes those and uses them to piece together what we can learn about the Christian life through the show. And sometimes those correlations work, sometimes they seem to be a little forced. The show at it's core is about faith, doubt, redemption, & struggle, so there's a lot that can relate to spiritual life.

Overall, I thought this book was ok... but I'm not sure it was as good as it could have been. I think it might have been better to write the book to include the final season, since so much of the story is yet to be told. And some of the chapters kind of felt like a rehash of things that we know from the show, so it was difficult to find them really interesting. Most of the points he made can easily be learned just from watching the show. I also kind of wished there was more of a flow to the book as a whole, instead of stand-alone chapters. Maybe a more casual Lost viewer would find it more interesting, but if you follow the show closely there's not too much new here.

2010

2010-01-01T02:16:00.000-08:00

Well, tonight was New Year's Eve. Found out when the doctor called at 11:30pm that we're going to have a baby tomorrow (or I guess that would be today). And it's impossible to sleep when you have that kind of information.

Can't wait to meet my daughter!

Be Kind Rewind

2009-12-31T12:30:00.000-08:00

Suncoast Video in the mall is closing, and they have everything in the store 40% off right now. So I was able to pick up a used copy of Be Kind Rewind on DVD for about $2! If you haven't seen this movie, you need to. It's really great, and I don't think it got enough notice when it first came out. Very funny, great visual style, and a lot of heart.

New Books

2009-12-30T23:43:00.000-08:00

Got a few new books for Christmas... looking forward to reading them soon!

The Search for God & Guinness Book Review

2009-12-30T19:47:00.000-08:00

I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers to review for this blog… so here it is!

The Search for God & Guinness, by Stephen Mansfield

I was excited to read this book, because I am a big fan of Guinness Stout and was looking forward to finding out more about the history of the beer and the company behind it. As a bonus, it goes into the history of beer in religion and the impact that it had on many Christian historical figures, such as Martin Luther and John Wesley.

The research in this book is fantastic, and goes very in depth into the Guinness family and what went in to making the company what it is today… which is one of the most recognized brands in the world. And even though the company has been very successful, they have made many efforts to use the wealth that it brought to do good for their employees and the people of Ireland. The book is full of stories of social action and going the extra mile to value people. It’s a great example to companies today who often forget that people matter and their impact is more that just the bottom line.

Many of the Guinness family also have had great spiritual effect outside of the brewery, with many being involved in the clergy and missionary work. It’s inspiring to hear about how Arthur Guinness’s faith impacted his family through several generations. They very much believed in benefiting both the spiritual and physical well being of the people around them, and their lives were a great example of that.

Although beer sometimes portrayed in a negative light today, this book really gets into the good impact that beer has had on history. Guinness particularly prides itself on its health benefits… especially to people in the 1800’s who had very poor dietary habits. It was also seen as a great alternative to the hard liquor that was very prevalent during that time as well. There is a fascinating part about the prohibition in the U.S. and what led to that as well.

I really enjoyed this book, and if you have an interest in religious history and beer than you will too!

8 Albums

2009-02-20T13:17:00.000-08:00

I can't remember where I saw this originally, but it was you defining your musical taste in 5 albums. Which is kind of a cool idea, but pretty difficult to do. So I got it down to 8. These aren't necessarily my favorite albums... just 8 that define my musical taste. Oh, and the other thing was that you can't explain them.

Favorite Music of 2008

2009-02-18T00:51:00.000-08:00

There was a lot of great music last year. It's hard for me to pick a favorite out of these, but if I just go by what I listened to the most, that would be Coldplay. But all these albums are great...

Coldplay - Viva La Vida
Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
Cold War Kids - Loyalty to Loyalty
Franz Ferdinand - Tonight
Kings of Leon - Only by the Night
The Killers - Day and Age
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Santogold - Santogold
The Ting Tings - We Started Nothing
The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
Adele - 19

Favorite Movies of 2008

2009-02-17T00:33:00.000-08:00

Now that February is almost over, it's probably time to figure out these lists of what I liked last year. And as far as movies go, there wasn't really a whole lot that I really liked. Except for The Dark Knight, which was by far my favorite. And here's the other movies I liked from last year...

The Dark Knight
Be Kind, Rewind
Burn After Reading
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Wall-E
Shine A Light
Wanted
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Tropic Thunder
Step Brothers
U23D
Iron Man

Bored

2009-02-16T00:01:00.000-08:00

Christmas Movie Marathon

2008-12-25T14:52:00.000-08:00

So since we've been kind of snowed in over the past week, April & I have had quite a bit of free time to watch movies. The rule is since it is Christmas that we have to watch movies that are Christmas themed. (at least somewhat Christmas themed) So here's what we've watched so far... it's a strange mix of normal Christmas movies, 80's & 90's action movies, and one Tim Burton movie. Maybe next we'll try Ghostbusters 2. That's kind of a Christmas movie, right?

Snowed In

2008-12-21T12:45:00.001-08:00

We got about 8 inches of snow (or more) and a 1/2 inch of ice yesterday and today. Which is the most I've seen since I've lived here. It's pretty cool, and the world has come to a stop in the Portland area. Here's what it looks like from where we are stuck at...

I got a new phone...

2008-12-12T16:12:00.000-08:00

It's an LG ENV2. It's not really the coolest phone... but I like it. I had mainly wanted something will a full keyboard for a while, because I am not very good at texting with the keypad. And this one is great for texting.

I got some new glasses...

2008-12-12T15:58:00.000-08:00

Facial Hair Guide

2008-05-09T22:06:00.000-07:00

I found this funny blog with a facial hair guide. You can see it here.

But I figure in all fairness I should should post what they say for the soul patch and three day scruff. Enjoy.

Soul Patch: You refer to graffiti as “art” and refuse to attend films not made in Europe. You love bands no one has ever heard of and if you have to wear glasses, their frames are as thick as a Goodyear.

Three Day Scruff: You concoct painfully transparent schemes to look cooler or more hip than you are. You frequently shop at second-hand stores and wear sneakers that look just as good on middle-schoolers.

My Favorite Music of 2007

2008-05-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

So there was actually a lot of good music that came out last year, so trying to decide on my favorites was kind of hard. But here they are...

Give Yourself Away by Robbie Seay Band - I've always like Robbie Seay, and this is best album he's done. I listened to it over and over.
Twilight by Future of Forestry - I saw these guys play early in the year, and had to get the record. One of the best albums I've ever heard from a "Christian" band.
Boxer by The National - These guys have been around for awhile, but this is the first I've heard of them. And now they're opening for REM.
Robbers and Cowards by Cold War Kids - I got this record right before I went and saw them live. Great show, and a really great album.
Once by Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - This album is really all about the songs... and these songs are amazing.
In Rainbows by Radiohead - Personally, I think this is their best album since OK Computer. But really, it doesn't matter which version of Radiohead you like... this album is really good.
The Reminder by Feist - Chances are you've probably heard at least a couple of her songs on commercials this past year. But I'm not holding that against her. I still like the record.
Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga by Spoon - Spoon is a really great band... and they write some really catchy songs. Just try listening to "The Underdog". You'll have it in your head for days.
The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter by Josh Ritter - This is a little bit of a departure for my musical tastes. I guess I would call it folk rock. But it's really good folk rock.
Tonight The Stars Speak by The Glorious Unseen - This band has some really original sounding worship songs. And a unique sound... some great atmospheric rock.

Honorable Mentions (in no particular order): We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank by Modest Mouse, All Of The Above by United, Baby 81 by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Combinations by Eisley, Holding Nothing Back by Tim Hughes, The Ringing Bell by Derek Webb, Sawdust by The Killers, Yours Truly Angry Mob by Kaiser Chiefs, Remedy by David Crowder Band

My Favorite Movies of 2007

2008-05-03T18:49:00.000-07:00

So it's May already... and 2007 was kind of a long time ago. But since I haven't already done this, here are my favorite movies of 2007.

Juno - This was by far my favorite movie of last year. And I know not everybody liked it... but I really did. It's one of those movies you could watch over and over and it still be enjoyable. Plus, given my fondness for Arrested Development, any movie that has both Jason Bateman & Michael Cera is great in my book.
Sunshine - I doubt hardly anyone has seen this movie. It wasn't in the theater for very long. I really like a good sci-fi movie occasionally, and this is one of the better ones I've seen in awhile. It kind of ends up in the horror genre at the end, but a really strong film overall.
Hot Fuzz - One of the funniest movies I saw last year. This is from the same guys that did "Shaun of the Dead", and this time they spoof action movies. In England. It's hilarious.
Sweeney Todd - Johnny Depp has got to be one of the best actors ever, and with Tim Burton he's always fantastic. I'm definitely not a fan of musicals, but this one is really dark and very entertaining.
Once - Ok, I guess this is another musical... so maybe I am a fan of musicals. The songs are really great in this movie. And the movie itself is ok, but the best part is the music.
Zodiac - This is another really dark movie, but also really engaging. I didn't really know anything about the subject matter before I watched it, so it was really interesting. Robert Downey Jr. is really good in this movie, too.
There Will Be Blood - I liked this one a lot more than I thought I would. It's like 3 hrs long, but I was totally into it the whole time. And the ending is crazy.
I Am Legend - I was entertained by this one. And that's pretty much all I have to say about it.
Michael Clayton - This is a kind of an old-school movie. Lots of dialogue and nothing really more than a good story and suspense. There should be more movies like this.
King of Kong - Now I'm really sure that nobody has seen this one. It's a documentary about two guys who are battling for the top score in the Donkey Kong arcade game and the "professional" game players. It's a really great movie. Really funny at times, and also really dramatic. Totally worth seeing.

New MacBook

2008-04-12T00:53:00.000-07:00

April got a new MacBook today... and I'm playing around with it.

And I think you'll agree, the result is pure photo magic.

Papua Photos

2008-02-15T01:13:00.000-08:00

I just got back from a 3 week trip to lead worship in Papua, Indonesia. Here's a few photos...

In Rainbows

2007-10-13T13:22:00.000-07:00

If anyone hasn't heard this already, Radiohead just released their new album online. You can get it at www.inrainbows.com. I've been listening to it the last few days, and it's a really good record. It has reminded me why Radiohead is still one of the best bands around. And the best part is... you decide how much you want to pay for it. (including nothing) So you might as well go download it.

Unexplainable

2007-10-10T10:28:00.000-07:00

New Photos

2007-10-05T14:12:00.000-07:00

Some of my family came out to visit a couple of weeks ago. It was their first time to the northwest, so we went and saw a few things. We took a bunch of pictures... here's a few of them.

Blogger

2007-10-05T00:23:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about switching this blog to another website lately. I haven't yet, obviously, but I'm kind of tired of blogger. The main thing that bugs me is the template designs... or to be more specific the lack of good ones. So I just switched to another one, but I don't really like the layout of it. So I've looked at moving things over to wordpress. I've even got one over there already at mattnissen.wordpress.com. The main problem with moving everything over there is that I would lose all the pictures that I have on here. So I don't really want to do that. But I do think blogger needs to com out with some new designs. And I still may switch at some point. We'll see...

Another Chinese Toy Recall

2007-10-03T16:39:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine sent this to me... and it's too funny not to share.

Give Yourself Away

2007-08-22T12:41:00.000-07:00

Relevant Magazine is giving away the new Robbie Seay Band album before it's released. It's a great record. Here's the link...

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/robbieseayband/

Hot Fuzz

2007-08-01T00:03:00.000-07:00

So I just finished watching this movie, and I would have to say it was one of the wierdest things I have every seen. And it was awesome. Seriously, it's hilarious.

Want to see something funny?

2007-07-31T23:48:00.000-07:00

No, I didn't spend the weekend at a Gunsmoke convention. It's my staff photo for New Heights Summer Festival. I just thought it was pretty funny...

Facebook & Virb

2007-07-18T21:16:00.001-07:00

I now have profiles on Facebook and Virb... but not many friends. Does anyone have one of these?

Update

2007-07-16T19:31:00.000-07:00

Well this is awkward... I have not blogged in a very long time. It's not that I haven't thought about it, but once you get to that place that you haven't written anything in months it's kind of hard to get back into it. I guess I didn't realize quite how long it's been, though. And while I'm at it I should probably apologize to the publishers of God's Ultimate Passion, since I have yet to read it and review it here on this blog. I still intend to... I just got busy with finding a new job, selling a house, working on another house, starting a new job, moving, and working two jobs. So sorry about that.

Which leads me to what's been going on lately. And by lately I mean this year. Most of it isn't that recent.

In December/January the church that April & I worked for closed. It wasn't a huge surprise, but it still was somewhat unexpected. And not a good experience. (In case anyone is wondering, I don't recommend church planting.) We both had already been working two jobs for several months before then, so we at least had something to fall back on.

At that point I started the process of looking for another job, while still working for Starbucks. Several options surfaced quickly, which was good. And I won't go into the whole process, but I ended up at New Heights Church here in Vancouver. Which is amazing, really. We wanted to stay in the area, and always had really admired and respected New Heights in the few years that we've been here. I am one of three worship leaders on staff, and it has been great working there. I started at New Heights part-time, so I continued to work at Starbucks in the meantime. I just quit Starbucks a few weeks ago and have been full-time at New Heights since then. So needless to say, I've been very busy work-wise.

In the meantime, April decided to go back to school and get her Masters in Teaching. So we sold our townhouse and moved to another place. We were able to find a great house to rent that some friends of ours own, so we were able to fix it up (mainly painting the entire house) and moved there in April. It's a great house with a big backyard, so Bella is happy there too.

So that's a quick little update on the first half of 2007. And things are good. It's always amazing to see how God provides for us...

Future of Forestry

2007-02-22T12:40:00.000-08:00

April & I went to see Future of Forestry play last night in Portland. They are an amazing band. I've got one of their songs on my myspace profile right now, and you can check them out at www.myspace.com/futureofforestry. Their album Twilight is probably one of the best records I've heard in awhile. So go buy it and support a great band!

The Perks of Blogging

2007-02-03T15:45:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I got a free copy of Spencer Burke's latest book to review on this blog. Which was pretty cool, because I like free stuff. But I kind of thought it was kind of a one time thing. Then a couple of days ago I received a copy of Frank Viola's new book to read and review. Which again, is pretty cool. So for anyone out there who is thinking about blogging... there are some perks. Now I just need people to send me free music to review. Anyone? I haven't had a chance to read the book yet, but I will in the next couple of weeks. It sounds pretty good.

In the meantime, here's what Amazon has to say about it:

In this groundbreaking book, Frank Viola introduces us to three tales that furnish us with a breathtaking glimpse into God's highest passion. The first is the story of a God who is an ageless romantic driven by one consuming pursuit. The second is the tale of a God who has sought for an eternity to have a resting place . . . a habitation . . . a home. The third is the tale of a God from another realm who visits planet earth to establish a heavenly colony that will give Him visible expression. All of these tales telescope into one another. They are but three scenes of one grand drama. Each of them is shrouded in a sacred mystery. A mystery that has been "hid in God for ages." The New Testament authors, especially Paul of Tarsus, unveil these three tales with maddening passion. Each tale flows out of the ultimate passion that lies resident within the throbbing heart of God. They are, as it were, His central intention behind creating the universe. Put together, these three tales embody "God's story"--the great interpretive narrative by which we may better understand the Bible, the Christian life, and our world. And that story is the chief reason why He created you! So watch the drama unfold and explore afresh the eternal passion of your God. In so doing, you shall find your own purpose and the passion by which to fulfill it.

Super Bowl

2007-02-03T15:03:00.000-08:00

The Super Bowl is tomorrow. I read in the paper yesterday that there are a couple of guys are trying to get the Monday after the Super Bowl made into a national holiday. That would be great. But until then, we'll just have to enjoy Sunday. And I'm looking forward to it. I'm going to have to pick the Colts to win. I wouldn't say that I'm a huge Colts fan, but I do have some roots in Indiana, so they are kind of the home team for me. And hopefully I don't jinx them by saying this, like I did the Twins, but I think this is their year. I don't really have any good reason for thinking they will win, except that they seem to have luck on their side. Which they have definitely not had in previous years. So we'll see what happens. Go Colts!

And the nominees are...

2007-02-02T09:41:00.000-08:00

This has got to be a sign of the apocalypse. Both Al Gore & Rush Limbaugh have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Gore was nominated for his work in environmentalism, and for his movie An Inconvenient Truth. Limbaugh was nominated for his "nearly two decades of tireless efforts to promote liberty, equality and opportunity for all humankind, regardless of race, creed, economic stratum or national origin", and being "the foremost advocate for freedom and democracy in the world today". It should be an interesting race, and I'm guessing neither of them will win. But it's still kind of funny. I hope they televise the awards and they have to sit together.

My Favorite Movies of 2006

2007-01-31T15:00:00.000-08:00

I was trying to hold off on my movie list until a few that I haven't seen came out on video, like The Departed & Babel, but I have no idea how long that is going to be. So this list leans more toward stuff that's out on DVD, since I don't see that many movies in the theater. And there's a lot of movies I haven't seen.

Stranger Than Fiction - I really liked this movie, from beginning to end. The casting was perfect. This is the best kind of role for Will Ferrell, in my opinion. Sometimes the over the top stuff can get old (for example: Talledega Nights), and the understated humor is always the best. I could watch this one all day long.
Match Point - If you haven't seen this movie yet, you need to go rent it right away. This is my favorite Woody Allen movie, maybe partially because he doesn't act in it. And it's not a comedy. But it is a really good Hitchcock type suspense drama. Another one you can watch over and over and still find something new to enjoy.

Children of Men - This movie was something of a surprise to me. I didn't particularly like the trailer, so I wasn't expecting a whole lot when I went to see it. But it was great. It's a very intense, stylish movie, but the thing that's most interesting about it was how plausible it seemed. Hopefully not too plausible, because it's set in a very near, very bleak future. It's very much worth seeing.

An Inconvenient Truth - This one of two movies on this list that I didn't find particularly enjoyable to watch. In fact, it makes me fairly depressed just thinking about it. It is a movie everyone needs to see, however, regardless of your political thinking. The key to change is knowledge, and this movie is a good place to start.

Borat - I'm somewhat ashamed to admit this, but this movie was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. There's never been anything like it and there probably never will be again after Sacha Baron Cohen ends up getting sued by everyone in it. And there's not much else I can say about it.

The Prestige & The Illusionist (tie) - I figured I might as well just put these two movies together. Who would have ever thought there would be two good movies about turn-of-the-century magicians in one year? The two movies are different in their own way, but both have clever twists and and great acting. I liked them both.

United 93 - This is the second of the two movies I didn't really enjoy watching. But it is a very important movie. It feels more like a documentary than a drama with actors, which is why I found it to resonant quite a bit more that World Trade Center. Very tough to watch.

Thank You For Smoking - I found this movie to be very funny, in a satirical sort of way. But it's not for everyone, I'm sure. I just happen to like dark comedy, and this movie is definitely that.

Little Miss Sunshine - I probably didn't like this movie as much as most people, and I definitely don't think it's really worth a Best Picture nomination, but I did like it enough to make the bottom of this list. Steve Carrell is always great, and this movie had it's moments. It just took a while to get to them.

V For Vendetta - This movie got a lot of comparisons to The Matrix when it came out, which I don't really get. It was a pretty cool movie, though. Politically, it's way out there. I found it amazing that a major movie studio would make a movie that basically glorified violence in opposition to government. But it is just fictional comic book movie.

Finally, a reason to watch the Grammy's...

2007-01-30T23:47:00.000-08:00

So apparently The Police are reuniting for the Grammy Awards and maybe even touring later this year. So I'm pretty excited. I know, I'm probably the only person who is. But I can't help it.

My Favorite Albums of 2006

2007-01-24T23:38:00.000-08:00

I must say, this was a good year for music. I had a pretty hard time coming up with my favorites, which is why there is quite a few here on this list. And here they are...

MuteMath by MuteMath - In the end, I had to choose this record as my favorite, because I really can't stop listening to it. It really sounds like nothing else out there right now, which is a good thing. The songs are great, the production is great, and it only gets better the more you listen to it. Their influences are all over the place, so it's kind of hard to describe... but just imagine if Sting was a 25 year old playing techno/indie rock and you kind of get an idea.

Sam's Town by The Killers - This album got a lot of crap from people and critics when it came out, but I think that was pretty unfair. Sure, it doesn't sound like most of Hot Fuss. But it actually isn't as far away from that sound as it was made out to be. Take another listen to the first record and you'll see what I mean. But that aside, Sam's Town is a great album. But then again, I like that whole U2 stadium rock sound.

The Crane Wife by The Decemberists - I think The Crane Wife is their best album yet, which is saying quite a bit because I really like Picaresque. The sound of the album is quite a bit different, and more rock than you might expect from their past efforts. It definitely sounds more mainstream now that they are signed, but they did a good job keeping the things that make them great and adding some new things that will take them even further. And I guess it worked, because it's selling pretty well.

Broken Boy Soldier by The Raconteurs - I've always like The White Stripes, but had a hard time really getting into them because of the really stripped down sound. So this is perfect. Put Jack White with a great band and it's a garage rock masterpiece. What's weird is how pop-sounding the album is, which I guess is because of Brendan Benson's songwriting. You can actually sing along with it, and you can't really say that about The White Stripes.

Under the Iron Sea by Keane - This is pretty much more of the same for Keane, which is a good thing. It has a little bit darker sound than Hopes & Fears. Hopefully they'll keep going in that direction, because there is some really great songs on this album.

Black Holes and Revelations by Muse - I had never really listened to Muse before this album, but they are a really great find. They are getting quite a bit of attention and radio play for this album, and for good reason. It kind of reminds me of early Radiohead.

Eyes Open by Snow Patrol - With Snow Patrol, you either love them or you hate them. I happen to love them, and there's plenty more to like on this album. Lots of great songs.

Ganging Up on the Sun by Guster - I've always liked Guster, and they've only gotten better over time. The perfect indie rock band.

Mockingbird by Derek Webb - Derek Webb is a guy who's not afraid to speak his mind, and this album is no exception. There's plenty of conversation starters. Musically, it's maybe not the strongest he's done, but it does have a unique sound. And you have to give him credit for giving away the album by free download online. It's an album everyone should listen to.

'Till the Sun Turns Black by Ray LaMontagne - If you haven't heard of this guy, you have to take a listen. His songs have a certain timeless quality to them. It's hard to tell when listening if they were recorded yesterday or 30 years ago. But these came out last year, and it's the perfect chill-out record.

These Are Jokes by Demetri Martin - Ok, so this isn't technically a music CD. But there is quite a bit of music on it, and it's the funniest thing I have ever heard. So it is on the list.

Honorable Mentions - Oh! Gravity by Switchfoot, United We Stand by Hillsong United, Good Monsters by Jars of Clay, Wolfmother by Wolfmother, Continuum by John Mayer, Taking the Long Way by Dixie Chicks, Flying Into Daybreak by Charlie Hall, We Were Here by Joshua Radin, With Love and Squalor by We Are Scientists

Portland Drivers in the Snow

2007-01-19T12:17:00.000-08:00

This video was taken on Tuesday morning during the snowstorm we got in Portland...

A New Year

2007-01-17T16:49:00.000-08:00

Ah, mid-January. That magical time of year when each and every one of those well-intentioned New Year's Resolutions has been hopelessly unfulfilled, leaving you looking forward to the next eleven and a half months of guilt free living and another chance to better yourself in 2008. Sounds like a plan, right?

Well, maybe not. There's still hope for doing something this year that will make a difference. And I can even suggest something that's really easy, doesn't take up any time, and costs less than dinner and a movie.

Sponsor a child.

There's plenty of great organizations where you can do this. One of the best (and the one we use) is World Vision. You can check them out at http://www.worldvision.org/ or there is a link in the sidebar of this blog. You can find a child to sponsor and get started online for as little as $30/month.

This is Mamy, the little girl April & I sponsor through World Vision. She is five years old and lives in Zambia, Africa... a country that's being torn apart by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Nearly one million Zambians are HIV positive or have AIDS. An estimated 100,000 died of the epidemic in 2006. Over a half-million Zambian children have been orphaned. Mamy is one of those children.

She and her sister live with relatives who struggle to make ends meet. Because of sponsorship with World Vision, she will now be able have food, shelter, education and medical care. And we get to be a part of making that happen.

There are millions of children around the world just like Mamy, needing someone to take an interest in them. They need you. If you've never considered sponsoring, I encourage you to take a look at what it's all about. You'll be glad you did.

Snow Photos

2007-01-16T14:08:00.000-08:00

We had a snow storm this morning. Pretty significant for around here, 4-5 inches. The interesting thing is that it was a surprise. Usually the news teams have crews standing on every street corner and fancy graphics that say something like "Winter Storm Death Watch '07" made up weeks in advance of every dusting of snow or chance of ice. But I even watched the news last night... no mention of it. And I wake up this morning to the most snow I've seen in 3 years here. Now, this really isn't all that much snow. I've even been driving around in it already today. But it is kind of fun to see. There's people in their SUV's pulling kids on skis down our street at the moment. I think I'll go see how that turns out...

(And yes, I know most of these photos are of a dog. I'll give you a guess as to who took them.)

MLK

2007-01-15T16:50:00.000-08:00

"Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love."

"Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don't have to have college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

"We are prone to judge success by the index of our salaries or the size of our automobile rather than by the quality of our service and relationship to mankind."

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

"The quality, not the longevity, of one's life is what is important."

"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend."

"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."

Santa 24

2006-12-15T09:31:00.000-08:00

This is pretty funny... nice marketing.

24 Season Six Trailer

2006-11-02T14:42:00.000-08:00

The trailer for the new season of 24 is out. Looks pretty awesome...

Happy Halloween

2006-10-31T09:01:00.000-08:00

The Office

2006-10-25T10:38:00.000-07:00

So I know everybody likes the American version of The Office, but if you've never had the chance to see the British version you are missing out. I like the Steve Carrell ones too, but the original will always be the best. It is hilarious. I've been watching it on DVD again lately, so here's three classic scenes I found on YouTube. Enjoy...

Vote

2006-10-24T11:18:00.000-07:00

The Prestige

2006-10-21T10:48:00.000-07:00

April & I went and saw The Prestige last night. I had been looking forward to it for awhile and I was not disappointed. This is a great movie... very engrossing the whole way through. Christopher Nolan is a great director and the movie has plenty of twists and turns. I really can't say much else about it (I don't want to give anything away), but it's definitely worth seeing. I wish more films were like this. No CGI or crazy special effects... just a good story and solid acting. It's old school, the way movies should be.

On the same line, if you haven't had a chance to see United 93, I highly recommend it as well. I saw it on DVD a couple of weeks ago, and it's definitely a movie everyone should see. It's pretty difficult to watch at times, but it's very well done.

Light & Dark

2006-10-13T22:23:00.000-07:00

I have a quote on the background of my laptop. It's the first thing I see every time I turn on my computer. Here's what is says...

"Why blame the dark for being dark? It's far more helpful to ask why the
light isn't as bright as it should be." Rob Bell

We live in a world of darkness and light. We see it all around us. Sometimes they get in the way of each other and all we can see is the darkness. But even in the darkness, the light is still there. There is always going to be darkness, but there is also always going to be light.

A friend of mine recently shared with me how he felt the world was seeming very dark lately. How things always seemed to be getting worse and that there is never much hope. One of the things that led to these feelings was all of the school shootings that have happened over the last several weeks. Events that are so tragic and without reason that we struggle to make sense of them. Darkness.

The most recent of these school shootings happened at an Amish school in Pennsylvania. A gunman took the life of 5 girls and then his own. He also seriously wounded 5 others. We've all heard about it by now. But amid the darkness of this story has emerged another story that begs to be told. The story of forgiveness. Since the tragedy, the Amish families of these girls have comforted the gunman's widow, mourned with her at his funeral, and offered her financial assistance. They have embraced the gunman's father and offered their condolences and forgiveness to him as well. Their actions have been a shining example of Jesus' love and compassion in the midst of death and sorrow. Light.

It's in the darkness that light shines most brightly.

One of the reasons I need to see that quote on my computer every day is to remind me what my role is in all of this. The darkness is out there. And it will continue to be there. But the beauty is when the light is there also. That's what each of us responsible for... how significant that light is. We can't control the darkness, but we can be the ones who offer hope that shines brighter.

R.I.P.

2006-10-06T17:55:00.000-07:00

I guess I spoke too soon... better luck next year.

What's Next?

2006-09-22T15:50:00.003-07:00

Part of my job involves going around to the various small groups we have meeting throughout the week in people's homes. Last week I went to one of these groups and got into an interesting discussion that I wanted to follow up on here. The theme for the group that week was "What Do I Really Believe?". Some of the questions addressed the nature of heaven & hell and belief in those things. Now, I've read quite a bit lately about those topics, specifically "A Heretic's Guide to Eternity" which I blogged about a few weeks ago, and Brian McLaren's "The Last Word and the Word After That" & "A Generous Orthodoxy". All of these books have a somewhat nontraditional view of both heaven and hell, but I found them all to be very interesting.

Our discussion that night didn't revolve around the specifics of heaven & hell, but more about our motivations regarding eternity. I shared some of this there, but I wanted to get into it a little further so everyone knows where I'm coming from. One of the biggest problems I have with modern Christianity is the preoccupation with life after death. We've "sold" it as a trade-off... you get baptized and then you get to go to heaven when you die. Now, while there is nothing wrong with that, the issue arises when all we do is think about how great it will be when we can get to heaven and get off this miserable planet with all of these sinful people. So we hide out in our houses and our churches and pray that Jesus will come back quickly because we're not sure how much more we can take. And you can take my word for it, I hear people talk like this all the time...

If you don't believe me, just look at the amazing popularity of the "Left Behind" series in the past few years. I'm not going to go into these in much detail, but I will say they're not really for me. What I do know is that they have sold over 60 million copies... which is a lot of money that Christians have spent just to read a completely fictionalized version of the apocalypse. (Not to mention the upcoming video game... you can check out my previous blog & video about that.) I don't want to come off as judgmental, but I think maybe that money could have been used for better things... like AIDS research or feeding hungry kids around the world.

In all fairness, though, I have actually talked to a couple of different people who have told me that reading one of those books in the "Left Behind" series was influential in their decision to come back to church. And that's a good thing, I guess... even if the motivation behind it was fear.

I sometimes wonder if the primary goal of following Christ is to get ourselves into heaven and stay out of hell, aren't we being a little bit selfish? How would things be different if instead of always focusing on eternity (which no one can agree on anyway), we instead put our efforts into making this world a better place? I know theoretically we are supposed to be sharing Christ with everyone and trying to win "converts", but sometimes I hear a lot more talk about how people who aren't Christians are going to be really sorry when they get what's coming to them. And not a lot of talk about how God would want us to love them unconditionally.

Something I have thought a lot about recently is the idea that the greatest example of love is Jesus dying on the cross for us. And we are told to be like Christ. So to put that in perspective for us, would I be willing to love someone (let's say an "unbeliever") so much that I would be willing to take their place? Instead of worrying about getting myself into heaven, could I love enough to take someone's place in hell? Wouldn't that be really loving someone as Jesus did? Obviously, this is all theoretical... but I want to be the kind of person who loves like that.

So now I'll let you in on my own motivations regarding eternity. I have always, and I mean from as early as I can remember, been afraid of the idea of eternity and life after death. And I'm not just talking about being afraid of hell, but being afraid of heaven as well. Something about the idea of no conceivable end of time just freaks me out. So needless to say, getting to heaven has never even slightly been my motivation for following Christ. In fact I try to think about it as little as possible. My motivations for believing what I do is that I truly believe that living as Christ calls us to live is the best possible way to live your life, right now, here on this earth. Rob Bell talks about the idea of redeeming the world for God and seeing the truth and beauty in everything around us... and that's what I live for. I follow Christ for the here and now, because that's what I can see, and that's where I can make a difference.

I think that's enough for now, since I've rambled on for awhile. Hopefully this makes sense... if not, please let me know and I'll try to clarify!

Walmart's New Scheme

2006-09-22T15:50:00.001-07:00

Maybe scheme isn't the right word. I'm not sure. You may have heard this by now, but apparently Walmart is going to be lowering the price of around 300 generic prescription drugs to $4. Which is a pretty big decrease for most of them. Right now it's only available at a few stores in Florida, but will be rolling out nationwide in January.

So I'm just wondering... is Walmart trying to take over the world? They have long had a history of strong-arming suppliers into low prices, most notably the music industry, but this is a whole new level of competition. Shares of several big name pharmacies, like CVS and Walgreens have already taken a hit after this was announced.

So I'm not sure what to think. Part of me thinks it is a good thing that they are taking a stand against the ever-rising cost of prescriptions. That's how they are selling it. And I hope that's why they are doing it. But considering their lack of health care for most employees, I have a hard time they are really just doing it for our benefit. It sounds more like another market to conquer.

I wonder how long it will be before Walmart starts selling cars?

Jim Wallis on CBS Evening News

2006-09-22T15:49:00.001-07:00

Jim Wallis was featured on the CBS Evening News last night. It was a pretty good piece. Here's the companion article from CBS and the link to the video... http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=2032149n

I really only have one thing to say about this. You'll notice it didn't take very long for Tony Perkins to label Wallis "extreme" & "out there". Then, when he questioned further about Wallis wanting to be somewhere in the middle of liberal and conservative says, “Well, you know what’s usually in the middle are dead cats and skunks that have been run over. That’s usually what’s in the middle of the road.”

Your argument's very persuasive Mr. Perkins. Oh wait, we're not in middle school...

I think I'll stick with Jim Wallis. And regarding that last comment, there's a big difference between being "middle of the road" spiritually and being "middle of the road" politically.

(CBS) Author and preacher Jim Wallis calls himself a 'progressive evangelical' who says Christians should focus on injustice around the world, CBS News national correspondent Byron Pitts reports. “I want to announce tonight that the monologue of the religious right is finally over,” Wallis says. “With 30,000 children dying every day needlessly from poverty and disease, I can’t imagine Jesus thinking the top issue on our agenda ought to be gay marriage amendments in Ohio.”
But Tony Perkins, president of the politically powerful Family Research Council, argues that abortion and gay marriage are the driving concerns for most evangelicals. “I think more and more people are standing on our side, on the side of sanctity of human life, the preservation of marriage,” Perkins says. “I don’t mind having these debates because when the truth is on your side, you ultimately win.” Wallis, however, says “the country is hungry for a politics of solution and a politics of hope.” Wallis says he's against abortion, but argues that the agenda of the religious right is too narrow and divisive.
So, is this a new movement, or simply an old movement that is new again? “The evangelists were abolitionists. They led the battle against slavery. They were revivalists and reformers. They fought for women’s suffrage. They fought for child labor laws," Wallis says. "I want to build the same kind of social movements today. That means global poverty, it means Darfur, it means HIV/AIDS, it means global warming." In the last presidential election, 78 percent of white evangelicals voted for President Bush. So now, we're seeing more and more Democrats - from Barack Obama to Hillary Clinton - talking about their faith and issues like poverty and the environment. “Liberal Christians are not cohesive. They can’t agree on anything,” Perkins says.
“I think it’s a hunger for a new moral center. Don’t go left. Don’t go right. Go deeper,” Wallis says, adding that he’s not advocating fence-straddling. “This is not a mushy political middle or center. The hunger, though, is for a moral center where we find the moral choices and challenges that lie right beneath our political debate,” Wallis explains. But Perkins doesn’t agree. “People are going to have to stand on one side or the other. These are decisions that you can’t stand in the middle,” Perkins says. He considers Wallis an extreme. “I consider him to be on the left. I’m no more extreme on the right than he is on the left. I mean, he’s out there,” Perkins adds. Wallis considers himself, however, to be square dab in the middle. “Well, you know what’s usually in the middle are dead cats and skunks that have been run over. That’s usually what’s in the middle of the road,” Perkins says. And so the debate continues, perhaps coming to a church near you.

It's not always easy to be a Twins fan...

2006-09-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

You know, I hesitate to mention this since I don't want to jinx anything, but since there's only about a week and a half left in the season I think I'll take the chance. Right now, the Minnesota Twins are on the verge of catching the Tigers in the AL central (no small feat considering the start Detroit got off to). And not only that, we have the top candidate for the Cy Young in Johan Santana, and the front-runner for the AL MVP in Justin Morneau. Now, I have been a Twins fan for about 20 years, and this is pretty amazing. It would be amazing for any team, but considering the Twins are a very small market team and have a history of not wanting to pay big money to star players, it's unbelievable. Especially since you have to compete in the American League with teams like the Yankees, who have more than three times the payroll Minnesota does. It's not always easy to be a Twins fan, but I think this year makes up for it. I'm thinking World Series here. It's hard to believe but it's been 15 years since the last one... Go Twins!

Review of "Body Piercing"

2006-09-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

I finally finished reading this book. Well, actually I finished it about a week and a half ago, but just haven't gotten around to blogging about it, what with the 60-70 hours of work every week. Speaking of which, I'm kind of tired at the moment. I've had to be at work sometime between 4:30am & 6:30am every day this week, as well as tomorrow and Friday. And I am not a morning person. I can't wait until Saturday, when I get to sleep in a little. But enough about that... I'm already way off track.

So anyway, I really liked this book. And it may hold more of an interested for me, since I've been in Nashville and experienced some of the same things, but it really is a great read for anyone. It's not completely confined to the Christian music scene, although that's the primary focus. There is a chapter about Mars Hill Church in Seattle, which is interesting. Beaujon spent quite a bit of time on the Seattle scene, mainly about Tooth & Nail and David Bazan of Pedro the Lion. Bazan has something of a history with Mars Hill, leading worship for them for a time, so that's the connection there. Beaujon also spent a chapter hanging out with an anti-abortion group during some protests they did and that was interesting as well.

The unique thing about this book is that Beaujon is not a Christian. He is a journalist that writes for Spin magazine and other publications. I've only read his stuff in Spin, but I've always enjoyed it. But the slant of the book is pretty positive, maybe even more so than it should have been. Interestingly enough, he had the hardest time understanding worship music, and was pretty outspoken in his distaste for it. He comes around a little towards the end, after attending a David Crowder concert, but even then I wouldn't say he's a fan. He gravitates mainly toward more fringe artists, such as Bazan & Sufjan Stevens, and the history of Christian rock. He's done his homework, and brings a few of the skeletons in the closet to light as well.

It's very interesting to hear a perspective on the "Christian" subculture from someone who is completely outside the bubble, and this book is very unique in that regard. It's a good read...

Jesus Camp

2006-09-08T08:36:00.000-07:00

This is the kind of thing that makes me sad to be a Christian. I'm officially bummed out for the day... www.jesuscampthemovie.com

Today's the day

2006-09-07T17:04:00.000-07:00

Football starts tonight, and I must say I'm pretty excited. I kind of hope Daunte Culpepper throws 4 interceptions and the Steelers put the Dolphins away early. So I guess you could say I'm still a somewhat bitter Vikings fan...

Blogger Beta

2006-09-07T16:51:00.000-07:00

I was finally able to switch to Blogger beta today. I'd been wanting to for awhile, but they aren't letting everyone move their site until the glitches are all ironed out. So anyway, I'm on it now. They have quite a few new features, which I like. I had to change my template to one of theirs, so that's why it looks different now. But I added a couple of new things, moved things around, etc. If you don't have a blog yet, it's a great way to go!

A Heretic's Guide to Eternity

2006-09-04T18:18:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading A Heretic's Guide to Eternity by Spencer Burke. It's a very interesting book. I had somewhat mixed feelings as I was reading it, and don't agree with everything Burke says, but overall I thought it was thought provoking in a good way.

I don't want to give away too much about it, but the main idea of the book is an "alternative" view of grace. The word heretic is used mainly to describe being willing to question the status quo of our beliefs and be willing to think in new ways. Burke used to be a pastor for many years, specifically in the role of teaching pastor in a megachurch. (I'm not sure of the specifics on that). Since then he has left the traditional institutional church completely. One of the things that comes out of that is his distaste for churches in general. Some of his complaints and thoughts regarding the church are understandable, but he even goes as far as saying there isn't much of a place for the church as we know it in the years to come. That could be, but I'm not convinced that we should give up on the church yet. Burke's view of the future is more of a kind of general spirituality that coincides with what he calls "mystical responsibility".

But going back to his ideas on grace... Burke describes himself as a "universalist who believes in hell". He uses several of Jesus' parables and stories to illustrate the idea that grace is bigger than any of us. The difference lies in the fact that instead of choosing to accept that grace, we are covered by grace unless we choose not to be. So in a sense, we would have to "opt-out" to be excluded from God's universal grace. Obviously, this view is very different than the traditional Christian view of each of us having to choose to "opt-in" to God's plan of salvation by baptism, repentance, salvation prayer, etc.

This is definitely a book that will ruffle some feathers and push peoples buttons. And that's the intent. Burke goes into great detail into reasons for these beliefs, and I'm not going to get into them here. Like I said, I don't agree with everything in this book, but there are some great thoughts and conversation starters.

I said before that Burke is not part of a church anymore, but he does have a community of people that he lives out his faith with. Each Sunday they go to the park and have a picnic lunch. They bring tons of food and invite everyone who is there to come and have a party with them, using that opportunity to show love to people. It's not the church that we know, but it sounds like Jesus to me.

The Colbert Report

2006-08-23T14:21:00.000-07:00

I read a great quote this morning. Here it is...

"I love my church, and I'm a Catholic who was raised by intellectuals who were very devout. I was raised to believe that you could question the church and still be a Catholic. What is worthy of satire is the misuse of religion for destructive or political gains. That's totally different from the Word, the blood, the body, and the Christ. His kingdom is not of this earth."

- Stephen Colbert, of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.

I thought this was a joke...

2006-08-21T11:24:00.000-07:00

But it's not... I know it's hard to believe. Your kid can have a set for only $39.95 + shipping/handling at www.armorofgodpjs.com. What are Armor of God PJ's? Here's what it says:

"The Armor of God PJ's were inspired by a mother reading Ephesians 6:10-18 every night to her daughter to give her a safe and secure feeling in the dark. As they read the scriptures, they put on each spiritual and powerful piece of the Armor of God to keep them safe and peaceful while they slept. At that moment, God gave me the idea how wonderful it would be if all children could have the opportunity to put on a pair of pajamas that symbolized the Armor of God for the same purpose..."

Because God is always on the lookout for a great money-making idea for us! And what set of pajamas would be complete without a shield? And in case pj's aren't enough, they have blankets too. But why stop there? I think there could be an opportunity for an entire kid's clothing line here!

sigh...

Music Industry vs. "Illegal" Guitar Tab

2006-08-21T10:44:00.000-07:00

This was in this morning's New York Times. You would think the record and publishing companies would have learned from their crazy downloading lawsuits, since it's done nothing to make things better. This one makes no sense at all. Why would you not want guitar players to be able to find tabs online? If they are playing the songs, it means that they have the CD or will go and buy the songs to listen to. And I don't know of anyone who actually buys tab books from the store. They're usually wrong anyway...

The Internet put the music industry and many of its listeners at odds
thanks to the popularity of services like Napster and Grokster. Now the industry is squaring off against a surprising new opponent: musicians.
Lauren Keiser, president of the Music Publishers’ Association, says guitar tablature Web sites reduce the earnings of songwriters.
In the last few months, trade groups representing music publishers have used the threat of copyright lawsuits to shut down guitar tablature sites, where users exchange tips on how to play songs like “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” “Highway to Hell” and thousands of others.
The battle shares many similarities with the war between Napster and the music recording industry, but this time it involves free sites like Olga.net, GuitarTabs.com and MyGuitarTabs.com and even discussion boards on the Google Groups service like alt.guitar.tab and rec.music.makers.guitar.tablature, where amateur musicians trade “tabs” — music notation especially for guitar — for songs they have figured out or have copied from music books.
On the other side are music publishers like Sony/ATV, which holds the rights to the songs of John Mayer, and EMI, which publishes Christina Aguilera’s music.
“People can get it for free on the Internet, and it’s hurting the songwriters,” said Lauren Keiser, who is president of the Music Publishers’ Association and chief executive of Carl Fischer, a music publisher in New York.
So far, the Music Publishers’ Association and the National Music Publishers’ Association have shut down several Web sites, or have pressured them to remove all of their tabs, but users have quickly migrated to other sites. According to comScore Media Metrix, an Internet statistics service, Ultimate-Guitar.com had 1.4 million visitors in July, twice the number from a year earlier.
The publishers, who share royalties with composers each time customers buy sheet music or books of guitar tablature, maintain that tablature postings, even inaccurate ones, are protected by copyright laws because the postings represent “derivative works” related to the original compositions, to use the industry jargon. The publishers told the sites that if they did not remove the tablatures, they could face legal action or their Internet service providers would be pressured to shut down their sites. All of the sites have taken down their tabs voluntarily, but grudgingly.
The tablature sites argue that they are merely conduits for an online discussion about guitar techniques, and that their services help the industry. “The publishers can’t dispute the fact that the popularity of playing guitar has exploded because of sites like mine,” said Robert Balch, the publisher of Guitar Tab Universe (guitartabs.cc), in Los Angeles. “And any person that buys a guitar book during their lifetime, that money goes to the publishers.”
Mr. Balch, who took down guitar tabs from his site in late July at the behest of the music publishers, added that, “I’d think the music publishers would be happy to have sites that get people interested in becoming one of their customers.”

Starbucks

2006-08-16T17:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I am officially now an employee of Starbucks. Specifically the Mill Plain South location, since there's practically one on every corner. And no, I can't get you free coffee. I don't have a whole lot else to say about it yet. Except that there is a pretty good chance that I am going to be consuming far more caffeine than I should in the near future. So if I start acting tense and jittery let me know. But so far, so good...

A New Book

2006-08-16T00:48:00.000-07:00

I just received an advance copy of A Heretic's Guide to Eternity by Spencer Burke to read and review on this blog. Thanks to the guys at www.theooze.com for that. It's always nice to get free stuff. I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but it looks very interesting. Here's the description of the book from Amazon...

In A Heretic's Guide to Eternity, Spencer Burke and Barry Taylor take a provocative look at life with God in the twenty-first century, articularly what the Christian faith has to offer. They do not merely put a spin on old beliefs but show that there are actually new ways of looking at the Christian message—free from the confines of religion and open to the possibility of a radical new incarnation and manifestation. Drawing on wide-ranging sources from theology, history, popular culture, and music, Burke and Taylor explore new postmodern forms of spirituality and conclude that religion's dominance over issues of faith may be over.

A Heretic's Guide to Eternity asks challenging questions about institution-based expressions of faith: Do we need church or temple anymore? Are there other ways to practice faith communally? Does any faith community have the power and the right to condemn, judge, and decide the destiny of others? Why do so many religious institutions often become bastions of exclusivity and hatred rather than love? What does it mean to be spiritual? How can we have an authentic relationship with God?

With its focus on the limitless grace of God, this book offers a new way of seeing an old faith, of practicing "mystical responsibility" and understanding that salvation is something that happens between God and people, not something regulated by institutions and gatekeepers. A Heretic's Guide to Eternity is filled with surprising insights into and encouraging thoughts about how to live a spiritual and moral life in today's complex world. Burke and Taylor may be asking heretical questions, but they are deeply committed to the teachings of Jesus, guiding readers to see those teachings afresh and, as a result, live more passionately and thoughtfully.

My review will be coming soon...

Back-to-School Drive

2006-08-05T16:09:00.000-07:00

In an effort to provide basic school supplies for Wy'East Middle School students whose families can't afford to buy them, Northwest Christian Church is sponsoring a Back-to-School Drive to benefit Wy'East Middle School. According to the principal and staff at WMS, 1 out of every 5 students attending there can't afford the basic supplies to start school. With nearly 1,000 students at Wy'East, that represents 200 kids!

Our goal is to provide 100 of each of the items listed below by August 31st.

Would you help us reach this goal and get these students started off on a positive note this school year? You can help by donating funds or the actual items need. If you have items to donate, we will arrange to pick them up or you can bring them to our Worship Gatherings starting Sunday, August 13th. If you want to make a donation by check, you can make a check out to: Northwest Christian Church and put in the memo line: Wy'East Back-to-School Drive. All donations are tax deductible and will go towards purchasing the items listed below.

Student's Supply List:
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Glue Stick
- College ruled notebook paper
- 1 composition book
- 6 blue or black ball-point pens
- 3 inch 3-ring binder
- 1 set binder dividers
- 1 box #2 pencils
- 1 large eraser
- 1 box colored pencils
- 1 black fine tip Sharpie permanent marker
- 2 highlighter pens (yellow)
- 1 box Kleenex
- 1 ream white copier paper
- 1 geometry kit
- compass; protractor/angle ruler
- 1/4 inch graph paper

By working together, we can bring some hope to these young people and make a positive impact in our community!

Northwest Christian Church
PO Box 872815
Vancouver, WA 98687-2815
www.northwest-christian.org

Free Derek Webb

2006-08-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard, starting September 1st, Derek Webb is going to make his album Mockingbird available for download for free on www.freederekwebb.com. Since it's an album that deals with some very serious issues, (poverty, war, politics, etc) he wants everyone to be able to hear it and join the conversation. I've had the album since it first came out, and it's fantastic. So spread the word and tell everyone you know where they can get some great music for free! And kudos to Derek & INO Records for caring enough about the message to be willing to take a step of faith like this. It's refreshing to see that's it's not always about the bottom line and the almighty dollar...

Left Behind: The Video Game

2006-08-02T17:41:00.000-07:00

This is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever seen...

In Fours... A Blog Survey

2006-08-02T15:59:00.000-07:00

4 Jobs I've had in My Life...
1. Rental Car Agent
2. Video Store Clerk
3. Door-to-Door Salesman
4. Lazer Tag Referee

4 Movies I Could Watch Over and Over...
1. Rushmore
2. Walk the Line
3. About a Boy
4. Match Point

4 Places I've Lived...
1. Charlottesville, VA
2. Anderson, IN
3. Nashville, TN
4. Sioux Falls, SD

4 TV Shows I Love to Watch
1. The Daily Show
2. Lost
3. The Office
4. 24

4 Websites I Visit Daily
1. www.cnn.com
2. www.espn.com
3. www.myspace.com
4. www.ebay.com

4 Magazine Subscriptions
1. Relevant
2. Rolling Stone
3. Spin (soon to be replaced by Paste)
4. Premiere

4 Books I've Read Recently
1. The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian McLaren
2. Confessions of a Reformission Rev. by Mark Driscoll
3. Post-Rapture Radio by Russell Rathbun
4. Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt

4 Albums I'm Listening to Now...
1. Boy Kill Boy - Civilian
2. Guster - Ganging Up on the Sun
3. Joshua Radin - We Were Here
4. Keane - Under the Iron Sea

4 Podcasts I Subscribe to...
1. Ricky Gervais
2. Mosaic
3. Mars Hill
4. Relevant

Indie Blockedappella

2006-08-02T14:23:00.000-07:00

This is really funny... Apparently it's just these two guys who do acappella versions of a bunch of different indie rock songs by bands like The Decemberists, Belle & Sebastian, Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens and many more. They're all pretty funny, but the Bon Jovi one is the greatest. You have to hear it to believe it. Listen to them here.

Mac

2006-07-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about getting a Mac for quite awhile now. Lately I've been thinking about it more and more... it probably has something to do with those incessant commercials with John Hodgeman & Justin Long that are on every time I turn on the tv. But annoying commercials aside, I still want one. And now that they have the Intel processors and can run Windows, it's becoming more and more tempting to just get one. I would be curious to hear from anyone who has one, just to see what they think. Everyone I have talked to so far has nothing but good things to say... anyone else feel differently? (hopefully my wife doesn't read this post... let's just say that she's not entirely convinced yet!)

MuteMath

2006-07-20T23:38:00.000-07:00

You know, my last post got me thinking about the fact that I really don't listen to very much Christian music anymore. Except for worship music, which of course I kind of have to for my job. And I enjoy good worship music. (Crowder, Robbie Seay, Charlie Hall, etc.) But not much of the "regular" CCM. However, lately I have been listening to this band, MuteMath, and they are pretty good. You can listen to some of their stuff at www.myspace.com/mutemath. It's worth checking out. I'm pretty sure you can only get their CD on their site, because they are in the middle of a lawsuit with their record label. But it's good music, so who really cares...

Body Piercing

2006-07-20T23:03:00.000-07:00

There's a new book that just came out recently called "Body Piercing Saved My Life". It's a book about the Christian music industry written by Andrew Beaujon, who writes for Spin magazine. I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but I've been hearing quite a bit about it. It sounds interesting... you can find out more about it by going to www.bodypiercingsavedmylife.com. This is how it's described by the author...

Body Piercing Saved My Life is the first in-depth journalistic investigation into a subculture so large that it’s erroneous to even call it a subculture: Christian rock. Christian rock culture is booming, not only with bands but with extreme teen Bibles, skateboarding ministries, Christian tattoo parlors, paintball parks, coffeehouses, and nightclubs,encouraging kids to form their own communities apart from the mainstream. Profiling such successful Christian rock bands as P.O.D., Switchfoot, Creed, Evanescence, and Sixpence None the Richer, as well as the phenomenally successful Seattle Christian record label Tooth & Nail, enormous Christian rock festivals, and more, Spin journalist Andrew Beaujon lifts the veil on a thriving scene that operates beneath the secular world’s radar. Revealing, sympathetic, and groundbreaking, Body Piercing Saved My Life (named for a popular Christian rock T-shirt depicting Christ’s wounds), is a fascinating look into the hearts and minds of an enormous, and growing, youth culture.

I've been hearing quite a bit about this book, some good and some not so good. As someone who has experienced some of how the industry works behind the scenes, I will be very curious to read an outsiders perspective. I'm guessing it might now be very flattering, but you never know...

Feedblitz

2006-07-13T11:55:00.000-07:00

I just added a Feedblitz link so you can subscribe to this blog. How it works is every time there is a new post, you will receive an email to let you know and a link to read it. It's easy to sign up, just enter your email address in the side bar to the right and hit subscribe. You'll then receive an email from Feedblitz to confirm your subscription. Click on the link to confirm and you're all set!

Lost

2006-07-11T08:23:00.000-07:00

I've been watching the first season of Lost on DVD the past couple of weeks. And I have to admit, I had forgotten how great of a show it was. And maybe still is. I've kind of been down on it since the second season, but watching the first season again has been really great. So I think I need to maybe give the second season another chance, too. Maybe...

Smoke & Mirrors

2006-07-06T15:58:00.000-07:00

My brother's band... you can check them out at www.myspace.com/smokeampmirrorsmusic

Our lips are sealed: Dan Nissen plays the keys for Smoke & Mirrors during a recent gig at Mad Rock Pub. The Sioux Falls alt-rock band doesn't talk to the press, but it already has a double-album worth of original material.

Smoke & Mirrors gives the silent treatment
New band creates a local buzz without even saying a word
ROBERT MORAST www.argusleader.com
published: 07/6/06

Smoke & Mirrors won't talk to the media. At first, this idea seems inexplicable considering this local alt-rock band isn't full of celebrities (a media silence is the dictum of anyone more famous than the president) and has played only a few more concerts this year than the reclusive Axl Rose.

And when you match the muted motif with music that sounds like something a record store lifer would wet his or her pants over, S&M's gambit stinks of pretension and snobbery.

But it's also kind of fun. So fun that without saying a word, Smoke & Mirrors has become the coolest band in Sioux Falls. Granted, that title changes every five months (such is the nature of "cool"), but after hearing S&M run through a set at Mad Rock Pub last weekend, it's easy to get the feeling this band could have some staying power.

Though it's lips are stitched together when it comes to the press, S&M does have vocals - mostly sung by Matt Buol, whose style wavers somewhere between Jerry Cantrell and a depressed Matthew Sweet. And, Buol isn't afraid to speak from the stage. Between songs that I don't the names of - again, no interview - Buol said, "This song is about fear," and then went on to say how it's a powerful emotion that may be running our government. Yeah, they're serious chaps who rarely joke or smile from stage - though, they do love to plug their merch table.

At least the music sounds good. According to Jayson Weihs, a local promoter who is serving as the band's media liaison, S&M recorded a 17-track demo before it ever scheduled a gig.

Four of these demo tracks can be heard on the band's MySpace page - including "Over the Mountain," with its alarmingly catchy chorus and a two-person drum solo that borders on tribal during the live show. Other songs start out with barks or distorted riffs only to morph into controlled doses of melancholy punctuated by a well-placed keyboard work. there's the raucous story-song "Richard Rocker" which tells the tale of a long-haired music head who becomes a tool of the FBI - let's hope it's inspired by true events.

Overall, S&M is interesting - especially since the members switch instruments between sets. But I'm wondering if the music is intriguing because of the self-imposed silent treatment, or if the self-imposed silent treatment is interesting because the music is tasty? I guess we'll find out when S&M finally talks.

Embracing the Mystery

2006-06-20T21:33:00.000-07:00

I've recently discovered that I am a creature of habit. This is not to say that I have recently become a creature of habit, only that I have been in complete denial up to this point as to the the extent of my tendencies. But however it may be, this realization dawned on me as I stood in Starbucks and ordered for what is probably the hundredth time, a non-fat vanilla latte. (Please don't over-analyze the dullness of this continual choice... apparently I am also habitually boring.)

Now there are many, many other things on the menu, but for some reason I always order this delicious beverage. Which gets me thinking about that rest of my life. Each day starts with setting my alarm clock for about a half hour earlier than I intend to get up, a habit that my wife particularly enjoys. I go to the gym and use the same machines for same amount of time. I take my dog for a walk on the usual route. I watch The Daily Show & Sportscenter. I listen to the same type of music, read the same types of books, eat the same foods, and try to recycle jokes in conversation that probably weren't that funny the first time I told them.

Habits are formed out of a need to be comfortable. My life is comfortable, and I like that. We all tend to seek comfort, to structure predictability, to eliminate what is new and different from our experience. The unknown puts fear in the hearts of the comfortable. But no one can follow God and be comfortable for long.

The God we read about in the Bible is full of surprises: frightening clouds of smoke & fire, earthquakes, donkeys that talk, oceans splitting apart, pillars of salt, using a little boy to kill a giant, and a Savior born in a stable and dying on the cross. Stuff that doesn't make sense.

Often we avoid reading the Bible because it makes us uncomfortable and we don't understand it. As creatures of habit, we gravitate toward the parts of the Bible that we are familiar with. And in the process we miss out on the mystery of God.

The God of the Bible is bigger than anything we can understand. And that's the beauty of it. I don't want a God that I can fit into a box or explain in a headline. I want a God who always does the unexpected. A God that I can't even begin to comprehend. A God that will always be a mystery. A God that takes the meaningless habits of my life and turns them upside down.

Ginkworld & The Ooze

2006-04-29T15:26:00.000-07:00

I am happy to announce that as of today, this blog is featured on two great websites, www.ginkworld.net & www.theooze.com. So if you are visiting this blog from one of those sites, welcome! If anyone hasn't checked out either of these sites, they are a great way to find out more about the postmodern movement. You can find this blog under the Community sections on each of the sites, as well as many other great bloggers...

The DaVinci Code

2006-04-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

I think it's probably time to weigh in with my thoughts on The DaVinci Code. I've been receiving emails and mailers for the last couple months warning me about it and outlining in great detail the ways to battle its lies. Most of those ways involve me buying something from them. The Christian marketing machine at work...

I read The DaVinci Code book last year and enjoyed it. It's an entertaining read. I also plan to see the movie when it comes out in the next couple of weeks. But I want to make clear, however, that I think the DaVinci Code is a work of fiction. Obviously, it is an influential book, since millions have copies have been sold, and even more people will see the movie when it comes out. It becomes even more confusing when Dan Brown goes back and forth about whether or not he considers the book to be fiction or fact. And because of this, the Christian right is taking a reactionary stance.

What we need to remember, in the midst of all of this is that The DaVinci Code is just art. Art in literary form, and art in cinematic form. Aren't we giving it more credit than it deserves? At the very most, all art can do is create conversation. Art isn't going to change our belief system. This reminds of me of when "The Last Temptation of Christ" came out in the late 80's. There was quite a bit of uproar from Christians about the heresy of the movie, and really all they did was draw more attention to a movie that was easily forgettable. Does anyone remember it now? It hardly changed our beliefs.

This situation really brings to light the difference between two different ways of thinking among Christians. The reason many Christian leaders and apologists are reacting so strongly to The DaVinci Code is because is challenges their logic and intellectualism. The modern thinking of apologetics is very highly regarded in the modern way of Christian thinking and to challenge that on grounds of science and proof is something we definitely won't stand for. But is it an argument we can win?

In my opinion, the life, death, burial and resurrection of Christ are not all that logical, scientific or reasonable. I don't believe in Christ because I have been convinced by proof. In fact, I have found traditional Christian apologetics to be something of a turn-off in the past (and still do). I don't think I'm alone in this thinking. There is a shift going on from the old intellectual way of thinking to embracing the mystery of faith, which combined with our day-to-day living can be the greatest apologetic.

But back to The DaVinci Code. While it's not going to change what it anyone believes, it does create questions for people. And questions create conversation. There's a lot left out of The DaVinci Code when it comes to the life-changing narrative of Christ. That's where we come in, to fill in the blanks. And not with "facts" & "proof". With a personal, heartfelt story about what the love of Christ means to us. So read the book. See the movie. Join the conversation.

Kirby Puckett

2006-03-07T07:35:00.000-08:00

My childhood hero died yesterday... one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He inspired me to spend hours a day playing baseball, trying but never succeeding to emulate Kirby's talent on the field. I would watch my VHS tape of the 1991 Minnesota Twins season over and over until it was nearly worn out. Kirby led the Twins to two championships during his career, in 1987 when I was 8, and in 1991 when I was 12. One of my greatest memories is still the 1991 World Series, as Kirby hit the game winning home run in the 11th inning, (his fourth hit of the night) and made a leaping catch at the centerfield wall that is probably the greatest catch in World Series history. And he did it all with a smile on his face, in every game he played. Yes, Kirby had his flaws, but he will be remembered for his love of the game. That's how I remember him. After his career was cut short in 1996, baseball wasn't the same. Kirby will be missed.

Bono's Speech at the National Prayer Breakfast

2006-02-03T10:23:00.000-08:00

Bono spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC yesterday. It was probably the best sermon he has ever given. It's a little long, but worth the read. So here it is...

If you're wondering what I'm doing here, at a prayer breakfast, well, so am I. I'm certainly not here as a man of the cloth, unless that cloth is leather. It's certainly not because I'm a rock star. Which leaves one possible explanation: I'm here because I've got a messianic complex.
Yes, it's true. And for anyone who knows me, it's hardly a revelation.

Well, I'm the first to admit that there's something unnatural...something unseemly...about rock stars mounting the pulpit and preaching at presidents, and then disappearing to their villas in the south of France. Talk about a fish out of water. It was weird enough when Jesse Helms showed up at a U2 concert...but this is really weird, isn't it?

You know, one of the things I love about this country is its separation of church and state. Although I have to say: in inviting me here, both church and state have been separated from something else completely: their mind.

Mr. President, are you sure about this?

It's very humbling and I will try to keep my homily brief. But be warned - I'm Irish.

I'd like to talk about the laws of man, here in this city where those laws are written. And I'd like to talk about higher laws. It would be great to assume that the one serves the other; that the laws of man serve these higher laws...but of course, they don't always. And I presume that, in a sense, is why you're here.

I presume the reason for this gathering is that all of us here - Muslims, Jews, Christians - all are searching our souls for how to better serve our family, our community, our nation, our God.

I know I am. Searching, I mean. And that, I suppose, is what led me here, too.

Yes, it's odd, having a rock star here - but maybe it's odder for me than for you. You see, I avoided religious people most of my life. Maybe it had something to do with having a father who was Protestant and a mother who was Catholic in a country where the line between the two was, quite literally, a battle line. Where the line between church and state was...well, a little blurry, and hard to see.

I remember how my mother would bring us to chapel on Sundays... and my father used to wait outside. One of the things that I picked up from my father and my mother was the sense that religion often gets in the way of God.

For me, at least, it got in the way. Seeing what religious people, in the name of God, did to my native land...and in this country, seeing God's second-hand car salesmen on the cable TV channels, offering indulgences for cash...in fact, all over the world, seeing the self-righteousness roll down like a mighty stream from certain corners of the religious establishment...

I must confess, I changed the channel. I wanted my MTV.

Even though I was a believer.

Perhaps because I was a believer.

I was cynical...not about God, but about God's politics.

Then, in 1997, a couple of eccentric, septuagenarian British Christians went and ruined my shtick - my reproachfulness. They did it by describing the millennium, the year 2000, as a Jubilee year, as an opportunity to cancel the chronic debts of the world's poorest people. They had the audacity to renew the Lord's call - and were joined by Pope John Paul II, who, from an Irish half-Catholic's point of view, may have had a more direct line to the Almighty.

'Jubilee' - why 'Jubilee'?

What was this year of Jubilee, this year of our Lord's favor?

I'd always read the scriptures, even the obscure stuff. There it was in Leviticus (25:35)...
'If your brother becomes poor,' the scriptures say, 'and cannot maintain himself...you shall maintain him.... You shall not lend him your money at interest, not give him your food for profit.'
It is such an important idea, Jubilee, that Jesus begins his ministry with this. Jesus is a young man, he's met with the rabbis, impressed everyone, people are talking. The elders say, he's a clever guy, this Jesus, but he hasn't done much...yet. He hasn't spoken in public before...
When he does, is first words are from Isaiah: 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,' he says, 'because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.' And Jesus proclaims the year of the Lord's favour, the year of Jubilee (Luke 4:18).

What he was really talking about was an era of grace - and we're still in it.

So fast-forward 2,000 years. That same thought, grace, was made incarnate - in a movement of all kinds of people. It wasn't a bless-me club... it wasn't a holy huddle. These religious guys were willing to get out in the streets, get their boots dirty, wave the placards, follow their convictions with actions...making it really hard for people like me to keep their distance. It was amazing. I almost started to like these church people.

But then my cynicism got another helping hand.

It was what Colin Powell, a five-star general, called the greatest W.M.D. of them all: a tiny little virus called AIDS. And the religious community, in large part, missed it. The ones that didn't miss it could only see it as divine retribution for bad behaviour. Even on children...even [though the] fastest growing group of HIV infections were married, faithful women.

Aha, there they go again! I thought to myself judgmentalism is back!

But in truth, I was wrong again. The church was slow but the church got busy on this the leprosy of our age.

Love was on the move. Mercy was on the move. God was on the move.

Moving people of all kinds to work with others they had never met, never would have cared to meet...conservative church groups hanging out with spokesmen for the gay community, all singing off the same hymn sheet on AIDS...soccer moms and quarterbacks...hip-hop stars and country stars. This is what happens when God gets on the move: crazy stuff happens!

Popes were seen wearing sunglasses! Jesse Helms was seen with a ghetto blaster! Crazy stuff. Evidence of the spirit.

It was breathtaking. Literally. It stopped the world in its tracks.

When churches started demonstrating on debt, governments listened - and acted. When churches starting organising, petitioning, and even - that most unholy of acts today, God forbid, lobbying...on AIDS and global health, governments listened - and acted.

I'm here today in all humility to say: you changed minds; you changed policy; you changed the world.

Look, whatever thoughts you have about God, who He is or if He exists, most will agree that if there is a God, He has a special place for the poor. In fact, the poor are where God lives.

Check Judaism. Check Islam. Check pretty much anyone.

I mean, God may well be with us in our mansions on the hill. I hope so. He may well be with us as in all manner of controversial stuff. Maybe, maybe not. But the one thing we can all agree, all faiths and ideologies, is that God is with the vulnerable and poor.

God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives. God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war. God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them. "If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom with become like midday and the Lord will continually guide you and satisfy your desire in scorched places."

It's not a coincidence that in the scriptures, poverty is mentioned more than 2,100 times. It's not an accident. That's a lot of air time, 2,100 mentions. (You know, the only time Christ is judgmental is on the subject of the poor.) 'As you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me' (Matthew 25:40). As I say, good news to the poor.
Here's some good news for the president. After 9/11 we were told America would have no time for the world's poor. America would be taken up with its own problems of safety. And it's true these are dangerous times, but America has not drawn the blinds and double-locked the doors.
In fact, you have doubled aid to Africa. You have tripled funding for global health. Mr. President, your emergency plan for AIDS relief and support for the Global Fund - you and Congress - have put 700,000 people onto life-saving anti-retroviral drugs and provided 8 million bed nets to protect children from malaria.

Outstanding human achievements. Counterintuitive. Historic. Be very, very proud.

But here's the bad news. From charity to justice, the good news is yet to come. There is much more to do. There's a gigantic chasm between the scale of the emergency and the scale of the response.

And finally, it's not about charity after all, is it? It's about justice. Let me repeat that: It's not about charity, it's about justice. And that's too bad.

Because you're good at charity. Americans, like the Irish, are good at it. We like to give, and we give a lot, even those who can't afford it.

But justice is a higher standard. Africa makes a fool of our idea of justice; it makes a farce of our idea of equality. It mocks our pieties, it doubts our concern, it questions our commitment.
Sixty-five hundred Africans are still dying every day of a preventable, treatable disease, for lack of drugs we can buy at any drug store. This is not about charity, this is about justice and equality.

Because there's no way we can look at what's happening in Africa and, if we're honest, conclude that deep down, we really accept that Africans are equal to us. Anywhere else in the world, we wouldn't accept it. Look at what happened in South East Asia with the tsunami. 150,000 lives lost to that misnomer of all misnomers, "mother nature." In Africa, 150,000 lives are lost every month. A tsunami every month. And it's a completely avoidable catastrophe.

It's annoying but justice and equality are mates. Aren't they? Justice always wants to hang out with equality. And equality is a real pain.

You know, think of those Jewish sheep-herders going to meet the Pharaoh, mud on their shoes, and the Pharaoh says, "Equal?" A preposterous idea: rich and poor are equal? And they say, "Yeah, 'equal,' that's what it says here in this book. We're all made in the image of God."
And eventually the Pharaoh says, "OK, I can accept that. I can accept the Jews - but not the blacks."
"Not the women. Not the gays. Not the Irish. No way, man."

So on we go with our journey of equality. On we go in the pursuit of justice.

We hear that call in the ONE Campaign, a growing movement of more than 2 million Americans...Left and Right together... united in the belief that where you live should no longer determine whether you live.

We hear that call even more powerfully today, as we mourn the loss of Coretta Scott King - mother of a movement for equality, one that changed the world but is only just getting started. These issues are as alive as they ever were; they just change shape and cross the seas.
Preventing the poorest of the poor from selling their products while we sing the virtues of the free market...that's a justice issue. Holding children to ransom for the debts of their grandparents...that's a justice issue. Withholding life-saving medicines out of deference to the Office of Patents...that's a justice issue.

And while the law is what we say it is, God is not silent on the subject.

That's why I say there's the law of the land. And then there is a higher standard. There's the law of the land, and we can hire experts to write them so they benefit us, so the laws say it's OK to protect our agriculture but it's not OK for African farmers to do the same, to earn a living?

As the laws of man are written, that's what they say.
God will not accept that.
Mine won't, at least. Will yours?

I close this morning on...very...thin...ice.

This is a dangerous idea I've put on the table: my God vs. your God, their God vs. our God...vs. no God. It is very easy, in these times, to see religion as a force for division rather than unity.
And this is a town - Washington - that knows something of division.

But the reason I am here, and the reason I keep coming back to Washington, is because this is a town that is proving it can come together on behalf of what the scriptures call the least of these.
This is not a Republican idea. It is not a Democratic idea. It is not even, with all due respect, an American idea. Nor it is unique to any one faith.

'Do to others as you would have them do to you' (Luke 6:30). Jesus says that.

'Righteousness is this: that one should...give away wealth out of love for him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for the emancipation of the captives.' The Koran says that (2.177).

Thus sayeth the Lord: 'Bring the homeless poor into the house, when you see the naked, cover him, then your light will break out like the dawn and your recovery will speedily spring fourth, then your Lord will be your rear guard.' The Jewish scripture says that. Isaiah 58 again.
That is a powerful incentive: 'The Lord will watch your back.' Sounds like a good deal to me, right now.

A number of years ago, I met a wise man who changed my life. In countless ways, large and small, I was always seeking the Lord's blessing. I was saying, you know, I have a new song, look after it. I have a family, please look after them. I have this crazy idea...

And this wise man said: stop. He said, stop asking God to bless what you're doing. Get involved in what God is doing - because it's already blessed.

Well, God, as I said, is with the poor. That, I believe, is what God is doing. And that is what he's calling us to do.

I was amazed when I first got to this country and I learned how much some churchgoers tithe. Up to 10% of the family budget. Well, how does that compare with the federal budget, the budget for the entire American family? How much of that goes to the poorest people in the world? Less than 1%.

Mr. President, Congress, people of faith, people of America:
I want to suggest to you today that you see the flow of effective foreign assistance as tithing.... Which, to be truly meaningful, will mean an additional 1% of the federal budget tithed to the poor.

What is 1%?

1% is not merely a number on a balance sheet.

1% is the girl in Africa who gets to go to school, thanks to you. 1% is the AIDS patient who gets her medicine, thanks to you. 1% is the African entrepreneur who can start a small family business thanks to you. 1% is not redecorating presidential palaces or money flowing down a rat hole. This 1% is digging waterholes to provide clean water.

1% is a new partnership with Africa, not paternalism toward Africa, where increased assistance flows toward improved governance and initiatives with proven track records and away from boondoggles and white elephants of every description.

America gives less than 1% now. We're asking for an extra 1% to change the world. to transform millions of lives - but not just that and I say this to the military men now - to transform the way that they see us.

1% is national security, enlightened economic self-interest, and a better, safer world rolled into one. Sounds to me that in this town of deals and compromises, 1% is the best bargain around.
These goals - clean water for all; school for every child; medicine for the afflicted, an end to extreme and senseless poverty - these are not just any goals; they are the Millennium Development goals, which this country supports. And they are more than that. They are the Beatitudes for a globalised world.

Now, I'm very lucky. I don't have to sit on any budget committees. And I certainly don't have to sit where you do, Mr. President. I don't have to make the tough choices.

But I can tell you this: To give 1% more is right. It's smart. And it's blessed.

There is a continent - Africa - being consumed by flames.

I truly believe that when the history books are written, our age will be remembered for three things: the war on terror, the digital revolution, and what we did - or did not to - to put the fire out in Africa.

History, like God, is watching what we do.

Thank you. Thank you, America, and God bless you all.

My Favorite Movies of 2005

2006-01-02T23:08:00.000-08:00

A word of warning about this list... I can't possibly see every movie that comes out, or even a majority of movies that come out. So I am limited to what I have seen. There are several movies I would still like to get to, such as Good Night & Good Luck and Capote. But this will have to do for now. Sorry, this list isn't just 10 either!

Walk the Line. A very easy choice as my favorite movie of last year.
Jarhead. This movie definitely isn't for everyone, but I really liked it.
Batman Begins. The best comic book movie I've seen.
Crash. A tough movie to watch, but one that grabs you and doesn't let go.
Munich. There are two Spielberg movies on this list, and I think this one is one of his best. But also his darkest.
Syriana. Not everyone will agree with its politics, but it's still a good movie.
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. I'm not sure what to say about this one, but it was a good way to end the Star Wars saga.
War of the Worlds. I can definitely think of a few people who will disagree with me here. But it's still Spielberg and I thought it was pretty darn entertaining.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Johnny Depp made me laugh quite a bit.
King Kong. Yes, it has it's flaws. But in the end, it's still a pretty cool movie.
The Family Stone. I figured I needed at least one chick flick in here, and this movie has a lot of heart.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith. I know this one is ridiculous, but if I don't put it on here my wife will call me a liar.

My Favorite Albums of 2005 (Top 13)

2006-01-02T22:04:00.000-08:00

Since it is now 2006, I figured this would be a good time to compile a list of my favorite music that came out this past year. I couldn't narrow it down to 10, so there are 13. I plan to do a Top Ten list of movies as well, so check back for that soon!

A Collision - David Crowder Band. Hands down the best album of the year. This CD blew me away. And maybe I'm going a little overboard, but it's really good. Listen to the song, "You Are My Joy", and you'll see what I mean. It's the best worship album I've ever heard.
Plans - Death Cab for Cutie. Maybe not the best album of their career (Transatlanicism would have to take that one), and a little more commercial than earlier stuff, but I liked it enough to be #2. A great major-label debut.
You Could Have It So Much Better - Franz Ferdinand. I think this band is going to be around for awhile. And I thought their first album was great. This one's even better!
Extraordinary Machine - Fiona Apple. This one is kind of a stretch, because I got a copy of it last year, when I thought it was never going to be released. But it finally came out and was definitely worth the wait.
Nothing is Sound - Switchfoot. I must admit that before this album, I hadn't been much of a Switchfoot fan. But I have listened to it over and over this year, and I still really like it. The whole album is good, but "The Shadow Proves the Sunshine" is the best song they have ever done.
X & Y - Coldplay. It may not be as good as "A Rush of Blood", but still a very good record. And still good enough for the list. Some great songs, like "Fix You" & "What If".
Employment - Kaiser Chiefs. It's only $7.99 right now on iTunes... and it's a great album. Well worth it. Check it out!
Better Days - Robbie Seay Band. Robbie Seay is a great worship leader and songwriter, and if you haven't heard his stuff before, this is a great place to start.
Room Noises - Eisley. It's always great to find a bunch of kids who can really sing and play their instruments. And write some great music. The antidote to all that teen pop/rock crap out there.
Elevator - Hot Hot Heat. This isn't their first album, but it's the first I've heard of them. A very catchy rock record.
Look to You - United. As far as live worship albums go, it doesn't get any better than this.
Guero - Beck. Beck is back... and better than ever!
Illinois - Sufjan Stevens. This album proves that Christian artists really can be original & creative.

Bono: A Response

2005-12-28T11:59:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share some of my thoughts on the article on Bono that I posted a couple of days ago. When I first read the article, I found it to be somewhat disturbing. But, now that I've had some time to think about it I've come to a slightly different conclusion. These are only my opinions, however, and I've been known to be wrong a time or two.

First of all, I think Bono may have been misquoted in the author. As I said in my intro to the article, the piece has caused quite a stir on the web, so there is no shortage of opinions to peruse through. The majority of responses have Bono as saying something slightly different. And in this case, a slight change can make quite a difference.

In the article, the author says she heard Bono say, "Jesus, Jew, Mohammed... all true. Jesus, Jew, Mohammed... all true." Luckily, I received the Vertigo Tour DVD for Christmas so I was able to hear for myself. What Bono says on the DVD (and many other shows) is "Jesus, Jew, Mohammed... it's true. Jesus, Jew, Mohammed... it's true. All sons of Abraham." This is very clear on the the DVD.

In the context of the show, this statement come right after the song, "Love and Peace or Else". The second verse says this..."Lay down / Lay down your guns / All you daughters of Zion / All you Abraham's sons". This sounds to me that Bono is calling us all to peace, not saying these are all valid ways to God. Since we are all sons of Abraham, we need to coexist with one another. I don't think anyone can deny that much of the unrest in the world today is caused by religious differences.

I do want to make it clear again, though, I cannot claim to know Bono's heart. Even at his very best, Bono is a flawed Christian. But aren't we all? In the end, what each of us can hope for is that through our actions, the love of Christ will be shown. I think Bono is doing that, probably better than most of us who are quick to judge him.

I do agree with the main point of the article. We need to be careful who (or what) we put our faith in. It's so easy to follow after things that will inevitably let us down. It's never a bad thing to reexamine our hearts and make sure our priorities are in the right place.

Narnia Marketing... Are You Kidding Me?

2005-12-24T14:01:00.000-08:00

I just came across an article on Christianity Today's weblog that I have to comment on. It concerns the new Chronicles of Narnia movie that came out a few weeks ago. You can read the article for yourself here. To sum it up briefly, the article is about a sermon contest on www.sermoncentral.com. The official marketing for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe apparently includes this contest, wherein the winner (pastor) gets a free trip to London and $1,000 in spending money. To qualify for this contest, pastors can submit Narnia-related sermon transcripts or outlines that have used in their churches.

This story raises some serious red flags, in my opinion. And while I could probably go on and on about my problems with Christian marketing in general, this one really crosses the line. What it essentially boils down to is product placement in sermons... and they're paying to make it happen! Should we really look to a movie company for sermon material? I also find it ironic that this is coming from Disney, a company that many Christian groups have boycotted over the years. Apparantly there's no hard feelings.

By the way, this is in no way a slam on the movie itself. I saw it yesterday, and I thought it was well done. However, we need to ask ourselves tough questions about the propriety of offering financial incentives for pastors to preach on a commercial product, even if it is Narnia. It's a very small step away from simply handing pastors a check in exchange for mentioning Faith-Based Movie X in his sermon. Don't think that would ever happen? I'm not so sure...

How to Dismantle an Idolized Bono: by Tara Leigh Cobble

2005-12-24T08:26:00.000-08:00

I recently came across this article in Relevant Magazine's weekly eNewsletter. Needless to say I found it to be very interesting, since many of you know I am a big fan of Bono & U2. It is already causing quite a stir on the web. So here it is to read, and I plan on sharing my thoughts on it soon... -matt
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Note: Bono was recently named one of Time magazine's "Persons of the Year" for his humanitarian work and international efforts. This story originally ran as this week's feature in RELEVANT’s 850 Words of RELEVANT eNewsletter. We decided to run it here because of the unprecedented amount of feedback we've received this week. To hear the editorial team's response to the article and feedback, listen to the new podcast on the front page of the website or at iTunes.

I’m pretty sure I won’t get much opposition if I say that U2 is the greatest rock band of all time. When I scored two great seats to one of the shows at Madison Square Garden last month, I thought my life had reached its pinnacle.

It was a euphoric experience. During the first few songs, I stood, along with the rest of the stadium, as we pumped our fists into the air and sang along with every word. The energy in the air was emotionally overwhelming. And if you’ve never been to a U2 show, let me tell you that it was everything you’d ever expect it to be.

But it was also much, much more.

About five songs into their set, Bono stopped the show and strapped on a headband with writing on it. I stared up at the JumboTron to see that the handwritten lettering said: COEXIST.

Coexisting sounds like a great idea. I fully support the peaceful philanthropy that Bono has encouraged, and this seemed like another way that he was trying to spread the message.

Except, it started to feel like more than a political message. The “C” in “coexist” was the Islamic crescent moon, the “X” was the Star of David, and the “T” was the cross of Christ. Bono pointed at the symbols on his headband—first to the cross, then to the star, then to the crescent moon—and he began to repeat: “Jesus, Jew, Mohammed—all true. Jesus, Jew, Mohammed—all true.”

He repeated the words like a mantra, and some people even began to repeat it with him. I suddenly wanted to crawl out of my skin. Was Bono, my supposed brother in Christ, preaching some kind of universalism? In just a few seconds, I went from agreeing with him about Christ-like “coexistence” to being creeped out by the ungodly, untrue thing he was saying. What’s going on here? What if he believes that all ways are the same, and he just thinks of Christianity as his particular way? Aren’t universalism and true Christianity mutually exclusive?

I’ve heard the urban legends of amazing things Bono has said about his faith, I’ve read the books, and I’ve peered deep into everything he’s said hoping to find something that makes his beliefs clear. For years, I’ve adored him and clung to the notion that he is believer, too. After all, he identifies himself with Christianity, doesn’t he?

When he stated that lie so boldly, it devastated me. It was, without question, the most disturbing experience of my life; I felt like I’d been covered in bile. As I looked around, I saw all the people standing and chanting with him—it was disgusting and beautiful all at once. Unity can be so enticing. It made me think of the one world religion and how that will probably look benign and beautiful from the outside, too. I even started to wonder if universalism just might be poised to be that religion. All these things were running through my head.

After the show, I ran into a friend who had been sitting in the back row of farthest. “What did you think of that headband thing?” I asked. “Well, I couldn’t hear what he was saying because it was bouncing off the wall behind me, and I couldn’t read the headband, because I wasn’t near a JumboTron. But honestly, I felt like I was witnessing an antichrist.” I stood frozen as she spoke. I’d had the same feeling.

Let me be clear: I’m not saying that Bono is the Antichrist. Perhaps he’s just guilty of being overzealous about his politics. But I hope that if he is a believer, the Holy Spirit will convict him that equating Christianity with other religions is false prophecy. II Timothy 3 tells us to avoid people who have a form of godliness but deny the true power of God. And I believe that the most deceptive thing of all is to identify yourself with the truth and preach a lie.

For a long time after the show, I couldn’t talk about it. And I still don’t know what to think because I don’t know Bono’s heart. All I know is what he said from that stage and how it shook my footing. God used that to show me something ugly in myself that needed to be fixed. It felt like He was saying, “If you’re looking to Bono, you’re looking to the wrong place.”

The reality is that Bono held too high a place in my heart. And I don’t think I’m alone there. I’ve wrongly held him up as the heroic ideal—the cool representative for Christianity; he may have been my “Christian idol,” but he was my idol nonetheless. And that’s not okay. Yes, it should bother me to think that Bono might not be a believer; but it should not bother me any more than if a random guy on the street does not believe.

I pray for Bono more lately, and I pray for the hearts of the millions of people that he impacts on a daily basis. He is, without question, the most influential person in the world, and he has an unparalleled opportunity to speak the truth to the lost world. This year alone, he was nominated to be the president of the World Bank, and he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. And by the time the Vertigo Tour ends in April, it will have grossed twice as much as any political campaign anywhere, ever. If Bono has a saving faith in the one true God, I can only hope that he would speak the Truth without ambiguity. I pray that the name of Jesus would grace his lips, without being equated with Judaism or Islam or any other religion. And I’m praying that God will help me to put things in the right place in my heart.

"How to Dismantle an Idolized Bono: by Tara Leigh Cobble" (www.relevantmagazine.com)

A New Look

2005-12-23T16:16:00.000-08:00

I'm debuting a new look for the blog today. I kind of like it. The old was kind of getting on my nerves, so we'll see how this one works out. By the way, if you are in the Vancouver area tomorrow night, be sure to check out NWCC's Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Wy'East Middle School. For more info and directions, go to www.northwest-christian.org. There's no better way to celebrate the holidays! And I can promise some rockin' Christmas Carols will be sung. Probably even a bit different than you've ever heard them before. And everyone who attends will receive a new video iPod. Just kidding...