It isn't Christmas until I can listen to this masterpiece

Posted via email from erin bird's web nest

"Good" Friday was a Beautiful Scandalous Night

"Beautiful Scandalous Night" as performed by The Robbie Seay Band

Posted via email from erin bird's web nest

Music Nerd Joke

Okay, so I was a music major in college, and thus find this joke absolutely hilarious.  If you don't understand it, that's okay, but for the 2 or 3 people out there who appreciate humor like this, here you go! (Thanks to Chad and Tye for sharing it!)

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C, E-flat and G go into a bar. The bartender says, "sorry, but we don't serve minors." So E-flat leaves, and C and G have an open fifth between them. After a few drinks, the fifth is diminished and G is out flat. F comes in and tries to augment the situation, but is not sharp enough.

D comes in and heads for the bathroom saying, "Excuse me.I'll just be a second." Then A comes in, but the bartender is not convinced that this relative of C is not a minor.

Then the bartender notices B-flat hiding at the end of the bar and says, "Get out! You're the seventh minor I've found in this bar tonight."

E-Flat comes back the next night in a three-piece suit with nicely shined shoes. The bartender says, "you're looking sharp tonight. Come on in, this could be a major development." Sure enough, E-flat soon takes off his suit and everything else, and is au natural.

Eventually C sobers up and realizes in horror that he's under a rest. C is brought to trial, found guilty of contributing to the diminution of a minor, and is sentenced to 10 years of D.S. without Coda at an upscale correctional facility.

Counting on God

Yesterday was a day of mixed emotions.  Facebook statuses revealed that some people are elated to have Barak Obama as our next president, while others can't believe God would allow Obama in the highest office.  I had great conversations over breakfast and lunch with a couple of different friends, but in between talked with a wife who is going through horrible marital difficulties.  Of course, several other things happened during my day - some of which made me feel joy and others that left me bewildered. 

I think January is one of the hardest months to live through.  I blogged last year about the rise in depressed people during the winter months.  This past week we've had 3 people (ranging from a 14-year-old girl to an 80something-year-old woman) in our church family pass away.  One of the leaders I work with at New Covenant unexpectedly lost his job.  Lots of people seem to be facing physical issues.  It seems that if "life is hard," January only compounds the difficulty.

I've been listening a lot to the latest CD of worship music to come out of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO.  They are the church that in 2006 had to release their senior pastor after a sex scandal.  A year later they endured a shooting on their property.  And now they are about to be chastised in a documentary film.  That's a lot for a church family to go through.

That's why their latest worship CD is so powerful.  It is called "Counting on God."  The words of the opening song have been stuck in my head for weeks.

So after talking with a hurting wife yesterday, seeing the various reactions to Obama's swearing in, and thinking about the difficult situations many people find themselves in right now, I thought I'd share the lyrics here in hopes that they might encourage someone to keep trusting God through whatever it is they are facing.

VERSE
I'm in a fight not physical
And I'm in a war 
But not with this world
You are the light that's beautiful
And I want more 
I want all that's Yours

PRE-CHORUS
Joy unspeakable that won't go away
Just enough strength 
To live for today
So I never have to worry 
What tomorrow will bring
'Cause my faith is on solid rock
I'm counting on God

CHORUS
I'm counting on 
I'm counting on God (repeat 3x)

BRIDGE
The miracle of Christ in me
Is the mystery that sets me free
I'm nothing like I used to be
Open up your eyes you'll see


Words by Jared Anderson
© 2007 Vertical Worship Songs

From the Album "Counting on God" by New Life Worship

Listening Loves

I generally don't prefer to repeat experiences. In other words, I rarely watch a movie a second time or reread a book. It also explains why I rarely listen to the radio because I get sick of hearing the same 40 songs over and over.

But when something really grabs me (like Cloverfield which I watched a second time in theaters on Sunday night - thanks for letting me introduce it to you, James!), I'll give it a repeat.

I've been listening to Hillsong's latest worship album (which came in my "Relevant Network Kit" Winter 2008 box) entitled Saviour King. The CD has practically been on repeat at my home, and I've often found myself pulling it up on my iPhone while I am in the car. I wake with the songs in my head (and they aren't driving me crazy yet!) and find myself having impromptu worship moments throughout my day. It's been a while since a worship CD has grabbed me like this.

While I'm talking about what I've been listening to, I've also been enjoying Robbie Seay Band's Give Yourself Away album. And I've come to like Brandon Heath's Don't Get Comfortable CD because my 10-year-old daughter likes it.

And I've also really been enjoying listening to Andy Stanley's sermons as of late. And Erwin McManus' "Intersections" series about billboards was far better than I expected.

So if you are wanting some new things to listen to in the car, at home, or on your iPod, there are some things I've been loving to listen to and recommend to you!

Free Music

I'm not sure how they can make it free (legally), but I just learned about Pandora, a website that becomes your personal DJ. Just tell Pandora an artist or song you like, and it finds what you are looking for, as well as similar songs and artists.

By the way, I'm currently listening to David Crowder's "B Collision" (even though I already own it...).

David Crowder MSN Artist of the Year

THE album of 2006 for me was David Crowder*Band's "A Collision". From start to finish it is a masterpiece.

Obviously many other people agreed, and through online voting David and his band were named MSN's Artist of the Year.

Congrats to David and his band!

Latest Tunes...

I'm currently enjoying Charlie Hall's new CD "Flying Into Daybreak". One of the songs on the album is going to be our theme song for the Watershed Retreat. But you'll have to come to the retreat to learn which song it is! (Or buy the album and then I'll tell you which song!)

Christmas Music

With Christmas music all over the airwaves, in stores, and pumping out of MP3 players worldwide, I thought I'd share my favorite Christmas CD. It is very unlike any other Christmas CD I've ever heard.

Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb of God was introduced to me last year before he came to Cedar Rapids in concert. LeAnn and I worked at the Compassion Table, and so got to go to the conference for free. The CD tells the Christmas story through song, but instead of starting with the angel appearing to Mary, it actually starts with the Passover. It has some deeply beautiful and moving songs on it. It has a fun song on it (check out Matthew's Begats). It has a couple of instrumental Christmas numbers (with hammer dulcimer!). It has guest singers (so it isn't about Andrew, but rather about the One who was born). The CD isn't just Christmas music - it is an experience.

Right now, you can listen to the whole album online on Andrew's site. Just click "Open Player" and enjoy!