Perhaps my Mom knows more than anyone what it might be like to be married to Jesus. After all, my Dad is the closest thing I know to a saint.
Just a shout out to my good friend Matt White who has written his first book, Married To Jesus. You’ll also find his blog listed in my “Blogs I Read” list to the right.
Want to wet your whistle? Here is the entire first chapter.
I’ve always admired and enjoyed the music of the guys from Jars Of Clay.
I stumbled onto Jars back in 1994, when I heard and fell in love with PFR’s pop masterpiece “Great Lengths”. If you love melodic pop, then you know what I mean about “Great Lengths”.
I first saw Jars in concert in 1995 when they opened for PFR. I remember hearing “Flood” for the first time that night and my jaw hitting the floor. I couldn’t get that song out of my head for days!
Here’s a blip of text from Wikipedia’s PFR page:
PFR released their third album, Great Lengths in 1994 … The Great Lengths tour introduced a new band, Jars of Clay, who would become one of the most popular Christian groups to date, also enjoying great mainstream success.
While the reference of “Christian” and “Mainstream/Secular” (as it relates to music) makes me throw up in my mouth a little, I must say that perhaps the best thing about both PFR and Jars was that neither really sounded like the “Christian” music that was played in the mid-90’s. By this, I mean, if you heard it on a Contemporary Christian radio station in 1995 (in between a male artist with three names — Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Phillips Craig & Dean etc.), you would be pleasantly surprised and in my case, shocked. These were guys that happened to be Christ-followers (and didn’t hide it or seem to live otherwise) that made very, very good music. Not the first to do so, but in my opinion, the first in quite some time!
If you haven’t heard it, I highly recommend picking up a copy of Jars’ self-titled CD along with PFR’s Great Lengths.
While PFR rode off into the sunset, Jars of Clay is still making great alternative rock music today. Their latest, Good Monsters, is fantastic.
I was especially moved by the lyrics to “Oh My God”. One particular line just won’t go away:
“What makes me so badly bent?” Oooh, I have some friends that will agree with me that that lyric is powerful. Take a look at the rest:
Oh My God
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 plunder
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 in
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
Words and music by Dan Haseltine, Charlie Lowell, Stephen Mason, Matt Odmark
They say that 40 is the new 30. How do I get in on that deal?
Why is it that since I turned 40, I feel 40?
This isn’t supposed to happen to me.
It would be very easy to blab on and on about the unfortunate down side of middle-age, but no worries. I’m not going there.
I’ve been thinking lately about the latter part of the phrase “Old and Wise”. I think part of gaining wisdom in age is simply the process of learning and coming to terms with who I am, exactly how God made me, what I’m particularly good at, and what I’m not-so-good at. And then (here’s the hard part) allowing myself to be absolutely fine with all of these things.
There is no doubt in my mind that many people never get to “feeling fine” about these things.
At 41, I’m really beginning to enjoy the peace that comes with “feeling fine” about some of the things I’m not-so-good at. For example:
A few of these things are quirky, simple things that few people would stress or be uptight about. But, I’ve still enjoyed getting old enough to be ok with them. And I’ll never sit in therapy over my unexplained affection for stickers.
Of course there are other, more substantive things like #8 above that I realize I certainly should not laugh off. These are the tougher things to come to terms with and I hope to make some strides this year on figuring out if I really want to make the effort to change them.
Psalm 63 was written by David when he was in the desert of Judah.
In verse 1, what did David thirst for?
“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you…”
If David were in the desert of Judah today, I’m hoping he’s not thirsting for America’s new faith-based energy drink “1in3Trinity” — even though it’s touted to be “handed down from the flourishing vines and trees of the Holy Land.”
What’s next?
HolyH20 bottled water?
ShemWeiser beer?
I recently got into a discussion with a friend about music and our sons. He was starting to get concerned about what his oldest son was listening to and after a nice chat, I shared with him this email:
Hi Steve,
My son Grant and I enjoy looking for new music groups and listening to them at home, in the car, out shooting baskets, etc. We have found a good selection of music that Grant likes and that doesn’t contain “garbage” lyrics. It’s been interesting to see some of his friends around the neighborhood even picking up on these groups and they have attended some concerts together.
Sometimes I don’t screen the music we listen to. That may sound bad, but it’s actually been a good exercise in choosing together what’s garbage and what’s not. Yes, he may hear something inappropriate, but I think it’s unrealistic to think I can protect him from everything….I had a few friends whose parents did that growing up and boy were they a mess once they got to their mid-teens and into college age. It’s worth the risk to me in order to have the discussion about what he should be filling his head with. We can stop a song half-way through and talk about what the song is about and talk about if it’s good for him or not. He’s a part of the decision that way and we get to reinforce how important these decisions are. In order for our boys to become good men, they have to learn to make good decisions before they leave the nest.
If your oldest son isn’t where you’d like him to be spiritually, he likely will not react well to suggestions of “Christian” or worship music. I suggest you try to find some groups that aren’t “preachy” or specifically worship music oriented, that have positive lyrics, and are the style of music he likes – there is plenty of this out there, you just have to look hard to find it. There actually are lots of bands that fit this category and you’ll be surprised how many are not in the “Christian” bin (for example, check out Tooth and Nail). What we’ve tried to do is find a good mix of both. I think this may help you find some middle ground with him.
Here are some potential music groups your son may enjoy:
Thousand Foot Krutch
Falling Up
POD
Cartel
All American Rejects
Family Force 5 (also see my blog post here)
Anberlin
Mae
Hawk Nelson
I just finished Blue Like Jazz written by Donald Miller. There’s a summary of Blue Like Jazz on my Nightstand page and a link if you want to pick it up at Biblio.
Miller has become one of my favorite authors and I especially enjoy his refreshing take on life and Christianity. It’s different than anything I’ve read in a very long time. I’ll write some more about this book in the coming weeks. Until then, click the link below if you’d like to read Chapter 1 of Blue Like Jazz:
Blue Like Jazz – Chapter 1 (PDF – Acrobat Reader required)
Prayer is such a challenge for me. It’s hard to explain why. I found this prayer today and although I tend to skim through things like this, I really liked the honor and honesty. This is from “markster” on the ChristianityToday.com message boards:
My Father and your Son, as I go out into the world today; I take the command to stop and think about my actions and thoughts. I just want to live a peaceful life, and be surrounded by peaceful people. I will control my lust today, I will not curse today, I forgive my self, as you have done; for not honoring my parents and my family name, today I will live with honor. I know I can do these things, because you died on the cross for me, and I believe in your grace, and I so anxiously beg to please you.
Thanks again and again for my forgiveness, and never ending supply of love and grace, please come with me today as I go out and make my calls, please point us in the direction of prosperity oh great God, bring me back home safely and peaceful so I can be the man I have to be for my partner and small children. Its all in your hands Jesus, and I feel the empowerment to be a Good and GODLY man today……I pray in Your great name. Amen.
