Good News!

Since today is Black Friday and I survived it (praise God) I'd like to share something with you that I planned on sharing even if I hadn't survived the madness that is retail on the day after Thanksgiving: Andrew Peterson. If you are ready to have your mind literally explode for lack of other options because it is so happy, then click the link above. It'll take you to Andrew's website, where you will then click, "Open Player" (ah heck, how about you just click here). Once you successfully click the "here" or the "Open Player" link, a window will open and it will start playing [arguably] the most mind-blowing Christmas album that will ever grace your ears. Go ahead. Even if you hate Christmas music, this is different. And if you love Christmas music, then I've probably already sold you, you're half way through the first song.

Remember my post about music and how awesome and powerful it is? I referenced a certain album that literally brought me to tears because it was so good? Recall? No? Well this is that album. I recently ordered and received the live concert DVD version of the same record... also amazing. I rarely recommend music on this blog, but if I didn't tell you to listen to this album, I'm pretty sure I'd be sinning. It's about 45 minutes. Just do it. I bet you Jesus shows you something through it. Stop reading, and start enjoying the magic of true musical fusion... then come back in 45 minutes and tell everyone what you thought... if you can see through your tears.

spectrums and free tunes

There are no shortage of spectrums that we can find ourselves on in this life.

Conservative - Liberal
Calvinism - Armenianism

As popular as the preceeding are, another spectrum that is more popular now than it ever has been is the one of how people view downloading free music off the internet.

Stealing - It's there, I should be able to have it

Those are kind of the two mindsets I've come across. I tend to favor the former and Aaron Hendrick is the poster child for the latter.

The final spectrum, or continuum, that you can find yourself on would be the level of which you enjoy Derek Webb's music.

Hate it - Love it

This post is to let you know that regardless of where you find yourself on any of the afore mentioned spectrums, Derek Webb has opened up the doors to the masses and allowed them to download his newest album, Mockingbird, for free. All you have to do it click here and enjoy.

music

In this post, I'm going to attempt an undertaking that I already know I will come up on the short end of: adequately describing how I feel about music. It will be, at best, an average representation of the art, but after the hundreds and hundreds of times music made an impact on my life, I've actually come to a place where I want to attempt to communicate my passion for it in an intelligible way.

"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent" said Victor Hugo.

I feel like he pretty much hit the nail on the head with that one. Music truly does express that which cannot be said. I could describe to you all day the beauty of Beethoven's 5th symphony, or Andrew Peterson's "Behold the Lamb of God," but apart from hearing them you would never really experience their power. You may think that "power" is too strong a word to be using for something like music, but I cannot disagree with you more.

In college I watched my music professor and conductor of the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra - who planned on playing a mere clip of Beethoven's 5th for the class - literally get lost in the piece as he closed his eyes and conducted the entire 7 minute 16 second first movement as if he had a full orchestra, and not a classroom of mostly disinterested students, in front of him.

This summer on a drive from College Station back to Brenham I put Andrew Peterson's "Behold the Lamb of God" CD in. The drive is about 45 minutes between the two towns, and the CD is 43. The music and lyrics of that album were so powerful that tears were literally brought to my eyes while listening to a Christmas CD in the middle of the summer.

Another way that music is powerful is that it brings us back to certain places and times in our lives. I dare say that if I asked you what music you listened to after finding out that a close friend died, you'd certainly be able to tell me (mine: David Gilbert, "Mother India"). I imagine that those of you who are married, when hearing the first song you danced to as a married couple, always brings you back in your mind to that dance floor. When you hear a song on the radio that you once heard the artist play live, you are undoubtedly brought back to that venue (here I'm more specifically talking about my parents generation, who got to see Elvis and the Eagles live). Bad or good, music has the ability to take us back to important, and unimportant, events in our existence.

Music also has the ability to unite people. The list of things that really unite people is not a very long one. From huge music festivals that cost tons of money to execute, to the poverty-stricken saxophonist in the subway station with an open case at feet, people from all different backgrounds, ages, races, are brought in to situations like these, and whether by choice or chance, they watch. Regardless of why they're there, the fact remains that they are, there, together.

I am so very thankful that God created this thing we call music. I'm more thankful still that He allowed me the privilege of being able to make music. I'm also ever grateful that He who created music really did so for Himself, and I love that He delights in our attempts to make pleasing music ("joyful noises") to Him.

In conclusion, I know that there are things that have gone unsaid, things that I've missed, in this, my feeble tribute of sorts to music, but as Victor Hugo said, "Music expresses that which cannot be said..."

music review

Skreet: A'ight den kinfolk, here's whatitdu. I gotta holla atch'ya 'bout dat new Trip record. Dat album goes so hard! Aw-yeah kinfolk, dem beats skrate bangin' and them lyrics are so cold. Plus dat cat Trip is only eigh-deen! Skrate bangin'. But on the real, you gotta hit that record up.

Middle Class: Hey guys, check it out. I absolutely must tell you all about the new Trip Lee, "If They Only Knew" CD. That CD is so stinkin' good. Really, the beats are so sweet and the words are so sweet too. Oh, and might I add that Trip Lee is merely 18 years old... neat! So good. But seriously, I highly recommend you buy this cool CD.

D.O.: If I were to write a real review of this album, it'd be somewhere between Skreet talk and Middle Class talk. I really do recommend purchasing this CD (www.reachrecords.com), it really is good (unless you hate hip-hop... I mean, you don't have to buy it). Oh, and if you click that link, you can hear some of the songs on LeCrae's new album, set to drop August 15th, which is the same day Jimmy Needham's new album drops. But I digress. Done.

holy hip hop

This past Friday night the first ever Fellowship of the Unashamed (FOTU) hip hop show was rocking the Lincoln Center here in College Station. We had around 800 people show up to watch some "souled out" believers spit rhymes into one of five microphones. Rappers present included: LeCrae, Json, Thi'sl, Tedashi, Trip-Lee (pictured), Future, Troops in Combat, and others. This show was seriously so krunk. Most important however, is the fact that the gospel was preached multiple times to lots of kids from Southgate, the pj's right across the street from my house. About a dozen kids said they accepted Christ as a result of this show. Praise God! For those of you who doubted that there was any hip-hop in my blood... who do you think you are? Y'all must not know.

sub-par post

well earlier today I wrote out a quaint but heart-warming post of a slightly different format than the typical posts read on this page. Upon clicking the "publish post" button after finishing my masterpiece of a post, the web browser showed me the dreaded "Page Cannot be Displayed" page... So if this post struggles, blame it on that little laptop down the street.

I'll start with the two main points of the post that got away: books and music. I thought I'd give you a taste of the literature and tunes that have been gracing my eyes and ears here in the Orient. These are also recommendations for those of you who are literate and/or enjoy music. If you really don't care about books or music, or just want to get on to whatever else I have to say, scroll down to "VDSLRJU." And... go!

Books:
- Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller - I'm sure most of you have read this already, I was late to get on the bandwagon because for a long time I wasn't going to read it simply because it was popular. Don't make that mistake. Miller brings up lots of good points, and he thinks further outside the box than I do.

- Radical Reformission by Marc Driscoll - If you want to read this book about how we ought to be effectively sharing the Happy News we know with the scores of people around us who don't know it, you should borrow it from Joey Rigney, his roommates, or myself. This one will make you think about stuff you probably haven't thought about before, but are worth thought.

- Shadow of the Almighty by Elisabeth Elliot - Also one I'm sure most have read. If you haven't, I really think that this story of the life of Jim Elliot as told by his wife (Elisabeth) and his own journals and letters has potential to change your life. This bro did not care at all. He was sold out for JC in a way most would consider radical, but he (and probably the Good Book) would consider simply the call of duty as a bro or sis.

Music:
- Caedmons Call's "Share the Well" - This CD I would say has been the anthem of our trip (if indeed the trip needs an anthem album). The album is a product of the member's of Caedmon's Call's various M trips around the world. Lots of stuff about India, lots of quasi-indigenous sounds with foriegn instruments and lyrics, but a very tasty mix indeed. I plan on buying this one immidiately upon arriving in the States

- LeCrae and the 116 clique albums - just kidding, I haven't listened to these at all on this trip (until right now, as I type I'm listening to clips from the website). I'm really looking forward to my hip hop CD's, and to ordering the new 116 cut. holla.

- Anything by Mae, Copeland, or Emery - rock at it's finest.

- Chinese Pop music - most of this stuff is terrible. Chinese people don't have any other option really, it's either the really old traditional stuff (not bad), the techno (not good), and the pop (no better than in the States, therefore terrible)

VDSLRJU
I don't know what all else to say here. The past few days have been extremely enjoyable, however they haven't been overly eventful. I did successfully spend lots of money on souveniers and gifts for the fam (L.O., you aren't getting shoes... but instead something much tighter). I'm really starting to look forward to coming home and enjoying various luxuries one is able to enjoy in the States. I think that's all I've got to say really. I'm having a hard time focusing with all the smoke, sweat, and skeeters raping me. I'll be home in way less than 1000 hours. Don't loose sleep over me. Cheers.