Is Jennifer Knapp coming back?!!!

http://www.patrolmag.com/scanner/1797/jennifer-knapp-planning-a-comeback

 

Man, I hope this is for real!  Honest lyrics are hard to come by in Christian music and her disappearance left a much noticed hole in the music world.

Stockholm Syndrome by Derek Webb

I downloaded Derek Webb’s newest musical venture entitled “Stockholm Syndrome”. As far as the style of music, I like it. It’s very electronic and reminds me of some 80’s pop songs. I don’t really have any other CD’s that sound like that so I am glad to have it. In a sense it takes me back to my school days.   As far as the lyrics are concerned, for the most part I like it.  To be honest, there are a couple of songs that I am trying to figure out what he’s talking about.  And they may not even be songs that I would understand unless given the background and circumstances that brought it to be.  As a songwriter, I understand that. 

There has been some controversy over some of the lyrics that he has written for this album.  Some controversy over explicit lyrics and some over the content of the songs.   Derek Webb has openly admitted that he has often pushed the envelope with his record label when it comes to lyrics.  If you can get past a couple of “bad” words to hear what he’s saying, I think we would be really challenged.  The most controversial song (at least from reading other blogs) seems to be the song “What Matters More”.  For myself, it has really caused me to pay closer attention to the words that come from my mouth when I’m not really thinking about what I’m saying.    It helps me to see who I really am rather than who I would like to think that I am.  It’s kind of ironic that the song that is causing most to question Derek’s sanctification is contributing to mine. 

There’s another great song called, “The State”.  I love it but I won’t get started on the topic in this post.  It would create quite a rabbit trail.

Overall, I like it.  Still working through a couple of them but happy for the purchase otherwise.  Derek’s writing has influenced mine, especially as of late.  We produce all of our own cd’s so we don’t have the hastle of a record label.  It’s very freeing in a sense.  I can write what I want without the unneccesary editing.  But we have a much more limited crowd.

I am hopefully going to see Derek Webb in concert in Louisville in a couple of weeks.  Hopefully, I can have his ear for a second for a couple questions.  Probably not, but who knows……..

Risk

JMB Update

I have been writing some new songs and for our next, next album. We just about have our new project finished up (two more songs) but summertime is hard to get together to record. Hopefully, we can get it finished up in the next month and have it ready by September.

I’ve spent quite a bit of time in the last year studying modern history (WWII to now). And it is affecting my writing. I have been working on a new song that I have probably wrestle with more than any I have ever written. It’s called “All Things”. I believe that the death, burial, and ressurection of Jesus Christ is the single most important event in all of history. And if that is true, then all of history must come to bear on it….hence the name, “All Things”. Everything from WWII to Korea to Kennedy, Nixon, Vietnam, and 9/11 are influencing this song. And it is topped off by a Charles Spurgeon quote……”When we cannot see the hand of God we must trust his heart!”

It may not make this album, or any album for that matter, but it is causing some good reflection for myself. More updates soon….

Life Update

Been busy lately. Too busy even for twitter. Not that I do that but if I did, I would have been to busy for it. Here’s a little randomness from my life.

Facebook: getting to talk with some friends I haven’t talked to in a while. It’s great!

Anna and Christy: Anna got her first two teeth this week. Yes, they are sharp. If you don’t believe me, stick your finger in there! Anna is growing like a weed. She will probably pass Christy up in a few months (just teasing, dear).

Youth group: Not much going on. Low attendance is the trend every summer and this one is no different. Hoping for a good D-Now weekend in the near future.

Nascar: That’s right… NASCAR! Joey Logano picked up his first cup series win a couple of weeks ago. Attaboy!! I’m going to the truck race at Kentucky Speedway on the 18th with some friends. Looking forward to it.

Bible study: I have started studying Leviticus this week. Nadab and Abihu have just been consumed by fire. Chapter 11 is in the morning. I have really been thinking a lot about the differing sacrifices and offerings. Read the first 9 Chapters sometime and notice God’s careful attention to detail. I am still trying to take it all in.

I made the paper. Yeah, really, me!

http://www.lcni5.com/cgi-bin/c2.cgi?019+article+News+20090605084155019600

“In Retrospect: The tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam” by Robert McNamara

I have just finished reading “In Retrospect” by Robert McNamara. There are few times in life when a person of such importance to our government admits mistakes and takes their share of blame when things go wrong–”terribly wrong”. I read the updated version which included various articles in response to McNamara’s book. I agreed with some of them but some responses I found sickening. Both of my grandfathers saw combat. One in WWII and the other in Korea. I am very proud of them for their dedication to serve in that capacity. My grandfather that saw combat in WWII would rarely talk of it. But the few things he would talk about were disturbing enough that we didn’t really want him to continue telling us. It was really hard for him. He had seen many war movies in his life but when he sat down to watch “Saving Private Ryan” he turned it off within minutes. It was too real for him. War leaves wounds that a medic cannot heal.

With all of that said, I personally am thankful for Robert McNamara’s book. While I agree that we probably should have pulled out with the fall of Diem and realizing that no stable government was going to be established, I can only say that 40 years after the fact. It is much easier to point out mistakes than prevent them, especially with 40 years of hindsight.

My education in public schools taught me very little about the sixties with the exception of Martin Luther King Jr. While I am thankful for that, there was more to the sixties than Dr. King. In, fact I have come to understand Dr. King much better after learning of the rest of the sixties and the vietnam war a big part of that.

If you want a look at the politics of vietnam from an insider’s perspective, this would be the book to read. As with all stories, there is probably another side and even disagreement between McNamara and those he served with over what actually happened when and how. But Robert McNamara was engaged in a political battle that would cause most of us to cower. He admits his failure. As a Christian, I understand that.

Morning Encouragement

“He (Paul) lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.”–Acts 28:30,31

I just found this really encouraging this morning as I head to work.

The Wildest Track in NASCAR

This is a crazy crash! Slide up to about 3:30 to see the best view of what happened. Crazy!

Philippians with the wife

Christy and I are going to be going through Philippians together and hopefully starting tonight. The plan is to go through Ligon Duncan’s sermon series on Philippians 3 nights a week until finished. This will be the first New Testament book that I have studied in over a year. Some of my favorite passages of scripture are in Philippians. The plan is to do three nights a week in Philippians and then continue studying Exodus for Wednesday night bible study. That seems to be going pretty well. I asked the youth if they would prefer to do overviews of books once through Exodus and they gave an emphatic NO! They want verse by verse, chapter by chapter study of these books. They said they are gaining understanding of the bible by going through slowly. Works for me!