Sloppy Wet Kiss

If you haven't had a chance to listen to DC*B's Church Music, then you should do it now. Even if you have listened, you may not have known that there is a lyric change on the song "How He Loves." The song originally had the lines "sloppy wet kiss," while on the DC*B version the lyric was changed to "unforeseen kiss." In this interview, David Crowder explains, along with other things, why they made the change.

Current Tunes

Current Tunes

Matthew West - The Motions

I heard this song on the radio and enjoyed the lyrics/sound. After watching this video and finding out the story behind the song, I like it even more. Embedding wasn't available for this video, so you'll have to check it out here. Enjoy.

Music and Memory

Music is an extremely powerful medium and it can be a great aid when trying to memorize things. I can still remember the words to songs that I haven't heard in years. I'm sure that repetition has an important role in the process, but what is it about music that causes people to retain what they hear?

If you're like me I imagine that you first began learning your ABC's by singing. I am always amazed at how fast my girls can learn things that we sing together. Recently, I began singing the Greek alphabet with Alora ("Alpha, Beta, Delta..."). We probably sang it together three or four times. A few days later I heard Alora singing through the Greek alphabet on her own. Although she missed a few letters, she remembered most of them.

On a slightly different note, it is interesting how we associate certain songs or tunes with events. For example, everytime I hear the hymn "Majesty" I think about playing the saxophone in the Chiquola Baptist Church orchestra with my old friend Malcolm. (And, yes, I played the saxophone for a number of years.)

Can any of you think of memories or events that you associate with music?

One Republic

I just thought that I'd recommend the band One Republic's new album Dreaming Out Loud. One Republic gained a large following via MySpace over a year, but some people (like me) are just now finding out out them. You can watch a video of their hit song "Apologize" here...but this is the remix version, not the original.

Morning Music

I absolutely love Fernando Ortega's cd, The Shadow of Your Wings: Hymns and Sacred Songs. The music is beautiful and the words are filled with scripture. A few of my favorites are "Grace and Peace," "Let the Words of My Mouth," and "Sing to Jesus." I've especially enjoyed listening to this music on my morning drives to Erskine Seminary. There is something wonderful about seeing the beauty of God's creation and listening to music to lifts His Name on high. Go and check out a few music samples here.

Remedy

I'm excited! Remedy is coming from David Crowder* Band on September 25th. Buy it at the store or preorder here.

Pandora

I just came across a really cool website, pandora.com, that lets you make custom radio stations based on a particular band or song that you like. For instance, I typed in Sufjan Stevens, and they played "We Won't Need Legs to Stand." Then, they followed it with a band I've never heard of called Iron and Wine. I really enjoyed the song so I clicked the "I like it button" so that they will play more songs like it. Anyway, go and have fun listening to some of your favorites or finding a few new favorites.

Oh My God

Patrick recently posted a John Piper video that contains one of my favorite songs from Jars of Clay's latest release, Good Monsters. The song is "Oh My God." You can read an (old) interview where the band talks about the song, here. And now for the lyrics:

Oh my God, look around this place
Your fingers reach around the bone
You set the break and set the tone
Flights of grace, and future falls
In present pain
All fools say, "Oh my God"

Oh my God, Why are we so afraid?
We make it worse when we don't bleed
There is no cure for our disease
Turn a phrase, and rise again
Or fake your death and only tell your closest friend
Oh my God.

Oh my God, can I complain?
You take away my firm belief
And graft my soul upon your grief
Weddings, boats and alibis
All drift away, and a mother cries

Liars and fools; sons and failures
Thieves will always say
Lost and found; ailing wanderers
Healers always say
Whores and angels; men with problems
Leavers always say
Broken hearted; separated
Orphans always say
War creators; racial haters
Preachers always say
Distant fathers; fallen warriors
Givers always say
Pilgrim saints; lonely widows
Users always say
Fearful mothers; watchful doubters
Saviors always say

Sometimes I cannot forgive
And these days, mercy cuts so deep
If the world was how it should be,
Maybe I could get some sleep
While I lay, I dream we're better,
Scales were gone and faces light
When we wake, we hate our brother
We still move to hurt each other
Sometimes I can close my eyes,
And all the fear that keeps me silent
Falls below my heavy breathing,
What makes me so badly bent?
We all have a chance to murder
We all feel the need for wonder
We still want to be reminded that the pain is worth the thunder

Sometimes when I lose my grip,
I wonder what to make of heaven
All the times I thought to reach up
All the times I had to give
Babies underneath their beds
Hospitals that cannot treat
All the wounds that money causes,
All the comforts of cathedrals
All the cries of thirsty children
This is our inheritance
All the rage of watching mothers
This is our greatest offense

Oh my God
Oh my God
Oh my God

Glory Revealed

On a regular basis I sense that I need to refocus my thoughts and life on Jesus Christ. I can so easily become distracted and sidetracked from what is of first importance: "For what I recieved I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins" (1 Corinthians 15:3). C.J. Mahaney puts it this way in The Cross-Centered Life:

The Bible tells us that, while there are many different callings and many possible areas of service in the kingdom of God, one transcendent truth should define our lives. One simple truth should motivate our work and affect every part of who we are. Christ died for our sins.

During times when I lose sight of what should define my life--the cross--I find it helpful to not only read the Word, but to listen to music that is saturated with the Word. Recently, I purchased the album Glory Revealed: The Word of God in Worship, and God has used it to encourage and helpf me keep my primary focus on Christ and the cross. If you'd like to listen to the music and get a free song download, check out the previous link.

The Ringing Bell

I'm excited! Derek Webb has a new project called The Ringing Bell. This time, he didn't stop at making music...he also made a graphic novel. (I'm sure that my friend Daniel will appreciate Webb's artistic flare.) Anyway, if you can't wait until May 1st to get the album, then preorder the album and book for $20 and get free downloads of all the songs now!

Savior: Celebrating the Mystery of God Become Man

Sovereign Grace Ministries has recently released a new Christmas cd called Savior: Celebrating the Mystery of God Become Man.

You can download and sample songs from the album, listen to interviews about Savior or purchase the cd here.

Or you can purchase it from Monergism Books and get free shipping with orders over $25 order!

The Mockingbird is singing, "Free, Free, Free."

Well, if you do not own a copy of Derek Webb's newest album, Mockingbird, now is your chance to get it for free. Yes, you read correctly...FREE! Go here to download the album and to find out why Derek is giving his music away.

And in case you didn't know, this is a really good album. So, what are you waiting for?

David Crowder Band Updates

For all of you David Crowder fans, here are a few updates that you may find useful:

*David Crowder Band is in the running for MSN artist of the month. They are up against Nelly Furtado, Frankie J, Busta Rhymes, and Neil Young. Strange company, right? In regard to DCB, MSN writes the following:

In only a couple of years, David Crowder and his band have single-handedly redefined what contemporary Christian music should sound like. While Crowder is unafraid to make direct and straightforward pledges to his savior, he seems extremely restless creatively and tries his hand at any style that suits him. Even Crowder's fans in the Christian music community had to be blown away by the album "A Collision or (3+4=7)," a literate, pensive and complicated album about death. It won the Dove Award for Best Rock Album, and has even secular fans wondering what's up next.

I pray that the Lord continues to give these guys opportunity to shine the light of Christ into the dark (ears!) of the world. Currently, they have recieved 65% of the votes. Go Crowder! Anyway, you can vote for DCB here.

*In other DCB news, the band released B Collision yesterday. The disk includes variant tracks from A Collision and live recordings with Shane and Shane. I haven't had a chance to buy it yet, but I hope to do so soon.

A New Heart; Not A New Law

Recently, Amy had a conversation with a lady who is a member of a different denomination. Since Amy wasn't familiar with the denomination, she asked the lady what they believed. And the lady responded by saying: "We don't believe in smoking or drinking." Although I assume that the lady's beliefs are more extensive than those seven words, I am deeply saddened by this her response for the following reason: instead of focusing on the saving work of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, she focused on "managable," external issues. I cannot help but to think of Christ's words to the scribes and Pharisees: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean" (Matthew 23:25-26)(ESV). Although we can try to conform to certain external regulations (not smoking, etc), this cannot change the fact that man's heart is still filled with evil. The testimony of scripture is clear: we are dead in sin, and we can do nothing to save ourselves. Romans 3:20, 23 states "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Only God can make us right in his sight and give us new life. We do not need a new law; rather, we need a new heart. Ezekiel 36:26,27 declares: "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules." Only God can do this work within us!

Even for those of us who have trusted in Christ alone for on our own salvation, we must rely on God's grace on a daily basis...not our own accomplishments. We must never begin to think that we are pleasing God just because we follow external regulations. God calls for us to love him with our whole selves: heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:29) One of Derek Webb's new songs, "A New Law," relates well to this discussion. I especially like the line that states, "what's the use in trading a law you can never keep, for one you can that will not give you anything." In case you have never heard the song, I've placed the lyrics below. (Also, you can listen to it for free here.)

"A New Law"

(vs. 1)
don’t teach me about politics and government
just tell me who to vote for

don’t teach me about truth and beauty
just label my music

don’t teach me how to live like a free man
just give me a new law

(pre-chorus)
i don’t wanna know if the answers aren’t easy
so just bring it down from the mountain to me

(chorus)
i want a new law
i want a new law
gimme that new law

(vs. 2)
don’t teach me about moderation and liberty
i prefer a shot of grape juice

don’t teach me about loving my enemies

don’t teach me how to listen to the Spirit
just give me a new law

(pre-chorus/chorus)

(bridge)
what’s the use in trading a law you can never keep
for one you can that cannot get you anything
do not be afraid
do not be afraid
do not be afraid