Carbon Ribs

This week of musical posts is almost over.  I've already posted a John Mark McMillan piece, but this one has hit me like a ton of bricks (or ton of feathers - they're both pretty heavy) the past couple of days.

One of the most poignant stories of compassion in the Bible, and most illustrative of our relationship to our King Jesus is the story of David and Mephibosheth.  I wrote briefly about it here: Me And Mephibosheth.  My soul longs for the day when I'll sit at His table, by His side, as the cripple adopted, cared for and loved by the King.

Beautiful Eulogy

Nope, this isn't fodder for the next funeral you officiate. Hmm...well it could be I suppose. Beautiful Eulogy is a band from Portland that serves up strong messages of God's grace and sovereignty on a hip-hop platter. But don't let that turn you off. Not too long ago, I was an avid anti-fan of anything labeled "rap music", but then I started really listening to artists like Lecrae, Trip Lee, Tedashii, Shai Linne, and now Beautiful Eulogy. Now my playlist is full of such music. I'm digging the style and these guys fill their lyrics with heavy, solid truth.  Heavy and solid like Mjolnir.

The music on Satellite Kite (the name of the album) is so...different...it's refreshing and strangely relaxing.  Oh, and did I mention you can have all of B.E.'s tracks FOR FREE RIGHT HERE???

The video below is "Entitlement". All the tracks are good, but I really like "Anchor" and "Satellite Kite". 

Sins Are Stones

So it looks like it's turning into an All-Music-All-The-Time kind of week around here, so I'm just gonna go with it.  Must be my mood.  Yesterday I listened to Beethoven's Ode To Joy with goosebumps for most of the piece.  I also teared up at least twice.  (???)  Anyway, here's another tune that I have a hard time singing without raw emotion dripping out of my eyes.



Usually it feels a little clunky when somebody lifts a familiar melody and uses it in another song.  U2 did it successfully with THIS SONG, I think.  And John Mark McMillan did a great thing with "Sins Are Stones."

Here's the same song, just live on the front porch with a banjo instead of a hollow body electric guitar with a slide:

Cover Trumps The Original

Merely an opinion, of course, but this cover of "Rolling In the Deep" by Ryan Lerman is brilliant: super delicious guitar action in the verses, nice riff for the chorus, and a funky groove. So, I guess that makes my opinion the correct one. ;)

We Forget To Care...Faint Not

I need to hear this right now at the place I'm at in life.  How about you?



And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not...Galatians 6:9

BTW...You can download several of Jenny & Tyler's songs FOR FREE RIGHT HERE!

Chilling (The scary kind)

Have you seen this?  This confrontation between truth and error made me shiver all over more than any place else. Watch this video, and then you can also click the jump and read a follow up to this situation written by Pastor Scott Rodriguez, the man in the video.




DID YOU CATCH THAT?  The moment he mentioned Christ he was SHUT DOWN.  I mean she slammed that door hard!  And that, right there, ladies and gentlemen, should be our first clue that something is rotten in Denmark...and in this woman's ministry(?).  Run, don't walk, from people like this.  Absolutely chilling.  And did you notice the crowd's reaction?  He was heckled, hissed, booed and accosted for bringing up Christ's atonement and the True Gospel. Hmmmmmm....

Here's the jump to Pastor Scott's story of these events.

What Really Hurts

There are few things that keep me from tending to writing and sharing on this space.  One of those things happened this week.  On Sunday, July 1st, my youngest son (8) began having mild asthma symptoms, most likely due to being around fireworks and all of that acrid, metal-heavy smoke.  By Monday evening we had him in a local ER.  By midnight, he had been admitted to that hospital.  Within just a few hours he was being life-flighted via helicopter to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.  I left by car and arrived 20 minutes before he did and was able to meet him as the flight medics brought him to his room.  Mommy, via a separate ride from the other hospital, arrived soon after.  Time: 5:00 AM, Tuesday morning.

(In the PICU I marvel that even a few short decades ago, our son probably wouldn't have survived this asthma.  In fact, he wouldn't have even survived his first few weeks of life due to his ARPKD.)

It's now Saturday afternoon, July 7th, and my son is still in the hospital. However, it looks as if he'll be coming home tomorrow.  This past week has been a blur, and even while we watched our boy make progress toward health everyday, we could not escape the nagging discomfort of seeing that child in pain and distress.  Children should not be sick.  I hate it.  Like, a lot.

But with all my heart I believe my son is learning things through this illness (and the complications of ARPKD) that I will never understand, but through which the Lord will enrich his life.  I really believe that.  I know and can see already that the Lord speaks to this ornery little boy in ways that are unique to him.  I can't stand that he suffers, but what I'm sure of is that there is a sure, sovereign Hand involved in his life, and in just a little bit of time, these tents we're living in will be fixed up for good.