Insert sarcasm here: What? God’s not a white bearded guy? Thankfully, the band Gungor, turned to the pages of the Bible to see what God has to say for himself.
Thanks @mikegoldsworthy for this video
God isn’t a white man?
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Category Archives: Music
Presence of the Lord….
I love this song for a few reasons…
One: The words…
I have finally found a way to live, just like I never could before.
I know that I dont have much to give, but I can open any door.
Everybody knows the secret, everybody knows the score.
I have finally found a way to live in the color of the Lord.I have finally found a place to live just like I never could before.
And I know I dont have much to give, but soon Ill open any door.
Everybody knows the secret, everybody knows the score.
I have finally found a place to live in the presence of the Lord.
In the presence of the Lord.I have finally found a way to live just like I never could before.
And I know I dont have much to give, but I can open any door.
Everybody knows the secret, I said everybody knows the score.
I have finally found a way to live in the color of the Lord.
In the color of the Lord.
Two: As a guitarist, a rocked out, overdriven, wah wah pedaled, guitar solo has got to be one of the best ways to celebrate the presence of the Lord…Yes Eric, yes….and yes Jesus, yes.
Thoughts on songwriting from John Mark McMillan
I’ve really been into John Mark McMillan‘s song writing since hearing a song of his this past spring. He’s a gifted songwriter and has a way of saying profound things in simple ways…His album ‘The Medicine’ (see below) is one of my favorite albums right now…I think it has easily cracked my favorite 10 ‘Christian’ albums of all time. He recently posted on his blog about songwriting…it’s worth a read if you are a writer or a creator of any kind.
Enjoy
Here it is: The Promenade: Worship and Song Part 2: Bring It Home?
Favorite line
Don’t give me the “side hug” folks. Write music from your gut, not out of obligation. I want the grit. I want the hard truth. Otherwise your just buzzing like the fridge. We all hear ya, we just don’t notice anymore. – John Mark McMillan
Fiction Family
What happens when you cross Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek and Jon Foreman of Switchfoot? You get Fiction Family. As odd of a couple as they may sound…they are really good. My friend Lindsey hooked it up with tickets to their show in Portland on Wednesday night and I was really impressed…I would recommend seeing them if you can (especially on the west coast as Sara Watkins is playing fiddle with them!) and picking up their album if you got some bucks to spare…
Anyone that does this has to be pretty good:
The Edge’s Live Gear Setup
I have often…literally often…thought about what gear The Edge from U2 uses. His sound has become legendary and nobody comes close to his sounds. I have tried…and failed miserably…and have just decided to practice more!
But here is a video that answers my questions about what the Edge plays…or better yet, what the Edge doesn’t play. Let’s just say he takes 45 guitars on tour!
Here’s the video…and if you’re a guitar player…you may need to watch this a couple of times (like I did) to get all the wonderfulness that is going on here.
Thanks to Gerry at Worship Guitar Guy for finding this!
Books I’m Reading, Music I’m Loving
It’s been a while since I’ve talked about things that I love in hopes that you will love them too…so here we go
Books:
Anatomy of Peace
by The Arbinger Institute
When I read Leadership and Self Deception
The Call of the Wild
by Jack London
Yes, for real. I found this book in a Dutch thrift store and remembered reading it as a kid in school. So, I decided to make this book my ‘mindless’ read. This is a classic book, amazing writing, and a cool story about a genius dog that can pull 1000 pounds in the snow and kill a moose by itself. I really found myself relating to Buck in his extra-ordinaryness…ok, maybe not.
The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse
by David Johnson and Jeff VanVonderen
My friend Laina loaned me this book and I’m only in the first part. It’s honestly a lot to think about. Because the truth is…it happens and people are harmed by people whom they give spiritual authority to. If you are a leader of people in a spiritual position it would be good to read this to heighten your senses to the subtle ways that we can unintentionally hurt those whom look to us as leaders. I hope that as I process this, I’ll be given insight into how I need to repent!
Lastly…
Organizing Genius
by Warren Bennis
I just picked this off of my friend Al’s bookshelf and it seems appropriate for the season that Jen and I are in. We are starting to look at recruiting for the future and this book is all about how to collaborate with other people and ‘manage’ talented people…which is an aspiration of mine. So we’ll see how it goes!
From the eyes to the ears…Music I’m listening to…
Brandon Grissom – Brighter Ep
Brandon is an acquaintance whom I met in Paris years ago when he was passing through. He’s a worship leader for a ministry called Axis in Chicago. This album seems to be written with corporate worship in mind…as he is a worship leader. I have to say…this album is a refreshing departure from standard worship tunes but is still catchy enough to be able to sing along with. If you are looking for worship songs that are musically good and have good lyrics…then check this out. It’s a welcomed breath of fresh air in the oft-boring and cheeseball worship music that is marketed well enough to make it ‘bigtime’…gosh I’m jaded. Another good album in this vein is Travis Taylor’s You Have Loved.
Copeland – You Are My Sunshine
I just bought this today (and Brandon’s album) thanks to my friend Rachel hooking me up with an iTunes gift card! I am half way through it and I love these guys…it’s kind of head bobbing pop-rock with good instrumentation and percussion…check ‘em out!
Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
Jen discovered these guys back in March and it is easily my favorite album of 2008. The cat is out of the bag about these guys and they are kind of blowing up in the Indie scene. I got to see their show in Amsterdam and they blew away very high expectations. I think that a lot of Indie bands try to hard to be ‘artsy’ and come across as pretentious and contrived. Bon Iver is a band of people that seem the exact opposite. They genuinely seem to be surprised at their success and seem to just love playing…and they should because they are brilliant…
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Howl
Thanks to my buddy Tim who is putting together a pretty amazing list of albums on his blog, I found out about these guys…and they’re just good.
Jon Foreman
That’s not the real title of Switchfoot frontman’s albums…but it works for me. Jon Foreman has put out four EP’s entitles Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring…each one with a bit different vibe to it. I’ve really be into them.
Ok…that’s enough for now…I hope that you will enjoy any and all of these things I’m enjoying…
Bands that are French…and are good!
Aaron (Artificial Animals Riding on Neverland) – Good stuff…seriously. Cool beat. Cool effects. Great lines like, “Don’t care what people say, I’m dreaming louder everyday.”
Phoenix – Pop rock at its best. If you’ve heard of them, you may not have known that they are French! Oui, c’est vrai!
Daft Punk – Are you kidding…they’re French? Wait, they wear space outfits all the time and like house music…ok…they’re French.
Carla Bruni – Yes, she’s married to the President of France Nicholas Sarkozy, but she is also a singer-songwriter who writes some good melodies. But I think she has issues.
Four Tet – Some good Electronica…I’ve used their stuff in a video.
Dancing to Rainbows
Here is a quick list of albums that I’m really enjoying these days.
Radiohead – In Rainbows
I am playing this right now and looked over at Maisie and she was dancing to the crazy beat on 15 Step.
Band of Horses – Cease to Begin
Love the tracks Is There a Ghost (always stuck in my head) and Detlef Schrempf…here the refrain of this song I love…“My eyes can’t look at you any other way.” I have no idea how this relates to Detlef, but I love the way it makes me think about the love I have for wife. (And I love crazy reverb they put on his voice)
The National – Boxer
I’m just in the beginings of discovering this album but I am already in love with the recording and the percussion…and the use of multiple instruments. Paste Magazine gave this the best album of 2007, so c’mon. Get it.
Daft Punk – Alive 2007
Ok, Ok…Daft Punk, but (1) I do love techno and I’m not afraid to admit it. (2) These guys put together some amazing beats and this live recording is proof that techno can have a soul. (3) They are from Paris and I never knew it…and this album was recorded at the show in Paris. I think my friend Taro was there. I was ignorant at the time and didn’t go. (4) They always, and I mean always, wear amazing robot costumes in public. Check this out if you want to learn more about the genius that is Daft Punk.
Tegan and Sara – The Con
I’ve been into girl vocalists lately. Good stuff and some really catchy melodies…that’s all I feel like writing about them right now…good sell huh?
There’s more, but I have to get in the shower…in case you wanted to know.