Dave Crowder interview
On my way to work I almost ran a cyclist off the road. He hit my car and his buddies gave me the finger. I was on Galston Gorge so I couln’t stop and apologise… I felt terrible though so I’m confessing online.
I got cheered up when I got here by an interesting interview with Dave Crowder. Go check it out.
Big difference part II
Joel Brown at Doxologist says…
“As Christians we can’t worship art as an end in itself, but it seems like more often than not, we’re so afraid of doing so that quality gets sacrificed. Is God more glorified when our offering of worship is more excellent by human standards? I find it curious that so many of the greatest artists of all time have been in it for their ow glory and not the glory of God. What does this say? Can you not be simultaneously a worshiper of Jesus and someone whose craft is perfected in a more humanistic way?“
NPR music
Thankyou Rolling Stone magazine for pointing me to npr.org/music a site with stacks of free streaming concerts and songs of the day plus more. Worth checking out! I’m currently rocking out to a set by New York band ‘The Holdsteady’. I bought their album in the snow season so I’m feeling nostalgic for bruised hips and hot coffee.
What’s the big difference?
Just read through the notes of a presentation Bob Kauflin gave at the Christian Musician Summit on ‘Does God even like our music?’
I was helpfully reminded of the big difference between Christian music and Secular music and why they will always be different. Secular music is created ultimately to serve the needs of the secular artist. Although there may be a desire for people to get enjoyment and pleasure from listening to the music, this is ultimately so that the artist will feel good, get money or gain fame.
Christian music is created for serving others and ultimately to be an artifact of worship to Jesus. The Christian musician desires Christ’s fame above all other things.
This means that Christian and Secular music will always have differences. While the White Stripes (for eg.) may rock, their music has a flavour of arrogant pride about it that you would not want to see in a Christian music maker. What other stylistic differences should be expected do you think?
Derek Webb – Wedding Dress
Hey all. Downloaded a song this morning that is one of the best I’ve heard all year! Big call but there it is. Derek Webb is a Christian singer/songwriter from the states who also fulfills the role of frontman for Caedemon’s Call. This song, Wedding Dress is about greed and the desire for God to bless us with riches. Rather than being a punk song that gets angry at false doctrine in others, Webb adresses the issue with humility and a sense of self awareness. The song is beautiful and I strongly reccomend downloading it. Here are the lyrics for you think over…
if you could love me as a wife
and for my wedding gift, your life
should that be all i’ll ever need
or is there more i’m looking for
and should i read between the lines
and look for blessings in disguise
to make me handsome, rich, and wise
is that really what you want
(chorus)
i am a whore i do confess
but i put you on just like a wedding dress
and i run down the aisle
i’m a prodigal with no way home
but i put you on just like a ring of gold
and i run down the aisle to you
so could you love this bastard child
though i don’t trust you to provide
with one hand in a pot of gold
and with the other in your side
i am so easily satisfied
by the call of lovers less wild
that i would take a little cash over your very flesh and blood
The religion of the Mac
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I have been off the interwebs for a while. Mainly because I’ve been trying to get my head around my new computer. It’s very exciting and white.
Apple has made it’s way into my house and now I am really conscious of design lines in everything. If you go to the apple site and watch some of their tutorials you will soon see that even the apple people have a cool look. Everyone looks a bit like they are from some prosperous North American cult. Actually I think that is exactly where they are from.
The IT guy at my school is brilliant with computing stuff and a cool guy to chat to. As he was setting up my Mac to be used at school he told me about how simple it was to use and how compatible it was with everything and generally how fantastic macs were. I asked him then, why doesn’t he have one. His answer was very perceptive. He said that in ‘my job I have to see computers as a tool. PCs are great tools but Mac users act like their computer is their God.’
It’s true! Apple have created such an image with so much propaganda that I have inadvertently come to believe that my computer can solve all my problems. How stupid of me to put so much trust in a piece of machinery and to forget to trust the God who made the minds who thought up the imperfect gadget in the first place. Much better to trust God and look to Jesus.
P.S – While you are webbing (my word) check out ‘
commuting with Christ‘. A new blog for Christian commuters. It’s been made by a good friend of mine Joel and he is awesome.
Music-review-a-go-go
I get a weekly email from Christianity Today’s music branch. Their interviews are pretty interesting and their reviews of CDs are really helpful and generally on the money. Many christian reviewers can be too positive in order to be loving. These guys are much more objective. You can get all their music reviews here. Make your next visit to Koorong a little more informed.
The best book I’ve ever heard
I’m currently listening to ‘The Religious Affections’ by Jonathan Edwards. It’s one of those books that I’ve never taken the time to read but knew that it would be worthwhile. This is why audiobooks are so cool! There is heaps to write about the book itself so I’ll save that for another time but you should definately download it from here and have a listen. The dude doing the commentary has a silky voice (I can say that can’t I?).
My afternoon
This is me after hearing I couldn’t get my macbook this afternoon.
This is me after hearing I can get a brand new fandangled model that just got announced today. I just have to wait two weeks.
Crossing over to Mac
I’m buying a Macbook today. Very exciting. Dave said that you don’t need to say you are crossing over to Mac because no one ever crosses the other way.
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Sing Unto the Lord 