Safe Haven

It's a true statement that this blog is about Jesus. It is also true that it's about me. Even still, this blog often concerns itself with music. I don't know much about music; I haven't heard much from before the rock age that is not a hymn, a Christmas song, or something unavoidably pervasive. That is a failing. I used to dislike classical music, because I thought pretentious snobs listened to it, but this is not always true. I enjoyed Holst's "The Planets" very much; another friend thought I'd really like Tchaikovsky (sp?) because of my affection for love songs and balladry; we'll see. But between 6 and 12, I heard this , this , and this most often. That's real music, son. I like tons of stuff, but in some way or another, it's all variations on a theme (whatever it is). You can't trust my opinion of music composed before 1960, largely because I am unfamiliar with most of it. I'm sorry. I will always bristle at the suggestion that...

5 Songs That Rule 5. "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston. 4. "All Cried Out" by Allure ft. 112. [Is this a remake list?--ed.] No. In this case, I thought the remake's vocals were more befitting this amazing song. (No offense, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam.) 3. "Cupid" by 112. These cats got a little hard-edge and hip-hop after this, but they have earned their place in the hearts of '80s and '90s R&B lovers. 2. "The Love We Had (Stays On My Mind)" by Dru Hill. Again, I risk getting hit by lightning and hate mail, but the remake is better. Our friends in Dru Hill can't sing a song better than this. 1. "Heaven Help Me" by Deon Estus and George Michael.

5 Thoughts For An Early Morning 5. Mr. Hall forced me by curiosity to look up the word 'grok' just now. Just a little word, but I surely had never heard of it. Also, when I looked at it, I thought it might be pronounced 'groke' but it is 'grock.' 4. I'll be MIA for RCIA, FYI. To many IDKs on my HUD. I'll be droppin' an SOS to my BFFs, because this NWO has got my knowledge goin' DTR. But I'll at be AWOL at the ETS, because they did a CYA on FJB. Don't call the CDF, 'cause I'm takin' my BMX through the history DIY-style. 3. Writing poems is harder than it looks. 2. Here come the Cardinals... 1. I love satellite radio. Now we need some competition.

Sitting With Mary, the Mother of God I was spending my night with some dear Catholic brothers and sisters examining some historical divisions between us Protestants and Catholics. After we had looked at the issues, we looked at and discussed our common foe(s), had a beer, and told some stories. One brother took me home when all was concluded, and he asked me if we could listen to a CD of the Rosary, as he said he wanted to finish it (it takes a good deal of time to do it right). "Of course," I said. Now, I should say, despite my current openness to Catholicism for reasons discussed previously on this blog, I do not venerate the mother of the Lord for conscience's sake. I joined in where most creedal Protestants would: the 'Our Father,' the 'Glory Be,' and the Apostles' Creed. I'd have to say, we should give real thought to praying the Rosary with Catholics (excepting the Marian parts if need be). The creedal unity therein expressed is indeed imperf...

5 Reckless, Irreverent Thoughts for the Day 5. Note to revisionist historians: Nazism was not a 'right-wing' movement; Hitler was an admirer of the Italian socialist Gramsci, and generally followed his views. 4. Actually, yes, I think Dane Cook is funny. His bit on crying was one of the funniest, most insightful things I've ever seen. [Warning: Foul language.] 3. I owe myself two more poems today; I hereby proclaim National Write A Poem Day. [You can't do that! You're not Obama.--ed.] That'd be sweet if I was, though. Obama would then be a really weird Republican. And he wouldn't be on the ropes, that's for sure. Look, Obama, just because some people think you're a black Muslim doesn't mean you can just lay on the ropes and get hit. [Look, we get it, you like Ali.--ed.] Not my fault he's "The Greatest." 2. Great song . I don't care if you hate country. That's flippin' stupid, anyway, but just listen to this one song. 1....

Four poems in two days! It may not sound like much, but I'm forcing myself to write them. I won't be sharing the ones from last night. I'm doing that thing only a Christian writer can do: wonder if and when he should repent for writing what he really thinks. The first stanza of the longest poem, "Mara," I don't entirely mean. I just knew I was in a mood, and I wanted to let it be. Lord, you know I love you. It may well be you have granted more freedom to your creatures than most of us are ready to accept, and that might mean somebody is spiritualizing their own selfishness, or whatever it is. [One of your present trials is causing the death of your Calvinism.--ed.] So it would seem. [Which one?--ed.] Both? Anyway, I'm really into haikus right now. I like them because they give me some structure to go with my meandering, hippie free-verse style. [This just means your poetry sucks.--ed.] I know. But it's mine. Have you forgotten "Fruit"? [Tha...

When Taylor Swift first arrived with her hit, "Tim McGraw," I heard her on the radio describing why she gave Tim McGraw (in Single-Man Envy Land we call him "Mr. Faith Hill") such a shout-out, and she said something like, "For people my age, Tim McGraw is a legend." I laughed at that, no disrespect to Tim. His highs are really high; I love the guy; he knows himself, and knows his audience. I always thought that what I'd heard of his albums (most of them) was a bit inconsistent. This dude is a singles artist to me, and that's not a slur. But then I thought about it, the phrase, "knows himself, and knows his audience." Maybe that's what a music legend is: he or she understands what he/she brings to the table, and doesn't do anything contrary to those shared musical experiences. This is my favorite Tim McGraw song. [Geez, you're haunted by ghosts.--ed.] Very likely. But seriously, the reason I love this tune is that it explain...

My new plan (5 poems composed each week for the remainder of the summer) has been partially foiled by my 2 week vacation to Colorado, which is a smidge ironic, 'cause who can't write a bloody poem in the face of perhaps the most majestic peaks on the blessed Earth? Well, me. I had family and beer to drink. [You drank your family?--ed.] Sure looks that way, doesn't it? I love English. Anyway, I owe myself one right now. [But it's 3 AM, you jack-wagon.--ed.] Well, if I don't write it now, it never exists. I'll post it if it doesn't suck, and as long as I won't be jailed/deported/embarrassed/excommunicated. Which pretty much means you'll never see it! Ha! [Admit it, you let me call you a 'jack-wagon' because of this .--ed.] Guilty. R. Lee Ermey is pretty great. I guess that the brothers who gave us the premillenial dispensationalist nonsense of The Omega Code 2 weren't too bent out of shape by the foul language of his movie career on the w...

5 Uncouth, Provocative Thoughts for Today 5. The Defense of Marriage Act is a blatant violation of the Constitution, specifically Article IV, sect. 1. 4. As such, I support the states' passage of laws defining marriage more specifically, though the Full Faith and Credit Clause will prevent people from eradicating gay unions entirely. 3. The Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts of 1964-65 are violations of the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, and have outlived their usefulness as a means to combat racism. 2. I think Lochner v. New York was rightly decided. 1. I think internet gambling should be entirely legal.

5 Musical Guilty Pleasures 5. "We Built This City" by Starship. 4. "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham! 3. "All By Myself" by Eric Carmen. 2. "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship. 1. "To Love Somebody" by Michael Bolton. [List-Defending Rant: Look, I understand that Starship cost us all some IQ points. But I dare you to try not singing along. Yeah, that's what I thought. Eric Carmen gets the Dion two-fer. [Isn't #2 a Diane Warren tune?--ed] Yes. I hate it when that happens. But if a song is written by the Bee Gees, and sung by Bolton, it wins. Done and done. And any list of guilt-inducing songs must include George Michael. Noone quite says "awesome pariah" quite like George Michael.]

5 Thoughts For The Day 5. Scott Rolen is having a monster baseball season at the age of 35. He's always been one of my favorite players, and would be a Hall of Famer if not for injuries. 4. Day 1 of the "new plan." No, this does not involve women. 3. I have made it through the day without listening to Barry Manilow. [Yeah, but "Mandy" was playing in your head.--ed.] 2. I didn't even know this song until last year, and I love it. Heard it on imeem.com. (Curse you, Myspace!) He's earned a hearing beyond his famous signature song. Warning to Tim: I will be finding one of his abums from the '90s or '00s and giving it a listen to write a review. Yes, I've heard the original. It's too slow to make the intriguing lyrics jump out at you. But congrats for writing a great song, dudes. 1. I heard yelling out my door, and then a doorbell ring with a knock. But I didn't get there fast enough. Hope they weren't selling something. [Actually Ge...

5 Reactions to the World Cup 5. I will believe until my last breath that FIFA was actively trying to prevent US advancement past the group stage. 4. The rules governing the issuance of cards should be revised. No one should miss a match while never having been dismissed from a match (especially as bad as the officiating has been). 3. Soccer--or football, if you like--is truly a beautiful game, and I don't understand why it isn't more popular here. Give me a rooting interest, and I'm in. 2. I respectfully disagree with Mr. Darke that every side would delay a match up 2-1 in extra time. Ghana's behavior was appalling, and should have merited a team yellow card. 1. #3 aside, I don't care about the tournament now. I may watch the final, but no more. And I hope Ghana loses 12-0. Entirely Unrelated Side-Rant: I may have to charitably punch Barry Manilow right in the face. YouTube is great, because you can explore tons of songs you hadn't heard. I knew Mr. Manilow sang...

My loyal reader is prompted to ask why I didn't liveblog the USA-Algeria match from Wednesday. The answer is: I wanted to actually watch the match. It takes me longer to type than you may think. And I feel a certain obligation to record semi-accurately pertinent details from said match, which limits enjoyment, in a sense. I'm thrilled about it all, of course. I follow most sports, and I am an ardent patriot. Landon Donovan, the scorer of the winning goal in stoppage time (because the clock counts up in soccer, stoppages do not affect it per se; thus, the head ref adds the time lost that he deems appropriate to the end of each half) has been the symbol of American soccer for eight years, and perhaps the nation's greatest player. How fitting indeed. The ninety-first minute of the game (with 4 added minutes of stoppage time) was the occasion for the most necessary goal. Had the goal not been scored, and that within the following 3 and a half minutes, the game would have ended ...

In addition to reclaiming interesting phrases for the English language, join me in my quest to reclaim rainbows . [Side-Rant/Disclaimer: In no way does my lamentation over the hijacking of the rainbow for a cause mean that I hate homosexuals. On the contrary; stop by, have a beer, share some laughs. Provided, of course, that you are not a "d-bag"* as they say in the vernacular.] Remember when a rainbow was just a rainbow? I dare you to wear, display, paint, or draw anything rainbow-colored. You'll have a spontaneously generated meeting of the Triangle Coalition on your front lawn before you can say " Eric McCormack ." Which I hate, because 1) I like rainbows, 2) I don't actually enjoy political discussions/heated debates/awkward meetings with church elders every 5 seconds. [Side-Rant #2, Subject: Homosexuality: Is the practice of homosexuality prohibited by the Bible, and thus, morally wrong? Yes. Get over it. Can the inclination to homosexuality be affected...

2010 FIFA World Cup (TM) USA vs. Slovenia: 10th Minute: USA looking aggressive but a little sloppy, 0-0. 13th Minute: Birsa, Goal, 1-0 Slovenia. Seriously. 43rd Minute: Goal, Slovenia, 2-0. Half-Time, 2-0 Slovenia. 49th Minute: GOAL!!! Landon Donovan, 2-1 Slovenia. 82nd Minute: GOAL!!! Michael Bradley, 2-2. 85th Minute: 3rd US goal disallowed for no reason, 2-2. Full-Time: 2-2.

When Marty is right, he's right : "I am not of the opinion" said Luther, "that through the Gospel all the arts should be banished and driven away, as some zealots want to make us believe; but I wish to see them all, especially music, in the service of Him Who gave and created them." Again he says: "I have myself heard those who oppose pictures, read from my German Bible. … But this contains many pictures of God, of the angels, of men, and of animals, especially in the Revelation of St. John, in the books of Moses, and in the book of Joshua. We therefore kindly beg these fanatics to permit us also to paint these pictures on the wall that they may be remembered and better understood, inasmuch as they can harm as little on the walls as in books. Would to God that I could persuade those who can afford it to paint the whole Bible on their houses, inside and outside, so that all might see; this would indeed be a Christian work. For I am convinced that it is God...

The Day is Mine! Academically, there was nothing to fear. A 2.44 GPA never looked so good. [You lost one of your ready-made excuses for being a papist.--ed.] I know. I don't think I was trying to torpedo myself. I think there was one assignment too many for me in one case, and I was inattentive in a little thing, which became a big thing. [But you did really well on that exam, which never happens.--ed.] I know. Just think what I might have done with more time to prepare. [That was a closed-Bible exam, no?--ed.] Hmmm. I didn't know my editor was Larry Feingold. Yes, it was. [You are blessed to remember Scripture like you do.--ed.] In my defense, it helps to read it fairly often. [Yeah, well, you just read Colossians 2 days ago, and you intended to read it for 3 weeks.--ed.] Guilty. But, God-willing, I'll read Ephesians and maybe Philippians [sp.?] today. Editor's Note: I stole the fictional editor concept from blogger and author Mickey Kaus. Too bad on that Califor...

OOOF! My school allows us to see individual assignment grades before the final grades come out, and it is ugly at points. I can't do math, but I think it'll be OK. I'd like to say that I am a real person, not a robot, and one with a physical disability at that. If you give me what amounts to "busy work," I have to make a choice. One thing I'm really proud of is the work I did in my Hebrew in Exegesis class on a word study paper (97) and the individual exegesis paper (88). I had already been aided by a 96 on the group exegesis paper, having teamed with "Deano" and "Exegetical Michael Jordan." I needed those, because that's the very class which worries me. Then again, I think now all I fear is the term GPA; if it was below 2.25, that will be the end of my studies. [There might not be any point in finishing.--ed.] Well, I've not decided to become Catholic, hermeneutical and ecclesiological doubts aside. [But it surely affected you--ed....

Note to Robin Thicke : Your massive awesomeness cannot be overestimated. Though I can abide the occasional semi-slinky line here and there ("Lost Without U," looking in your direction, and I am a Babyface/Marvin Gaye fan after all) I must call biblical shenanigans on an album entitled "Sex Therapy." And it has a warning label! So I picked up "The Evolution of Robin Thicke" instead. (Fred the Fundie: But it says 'Evolution'! Oh, heavens to Betsy! Whatever shall we do?) There must be a happy medium somewhere. I figure it's this: If your pastor can't affirm something in a song as reflective of marital love as God intends without firing himself, it's wicked. [Is it a bad time to mention that every time you attend a marriage/dating/sex seminar, you hear "Whip Appeal" in your head for the next three hours?--ed.] Look, I'm not gonna play it for the youth group, OK? But I think we should congratulate the songwriters in that ca...

No, I Cannot Pray and Chew Gum at the Same Time, Thanks for Asking I found myself praying for a buddy just now, forgetting that I had a piece of gum in my mouth. It's not that I couldn't do it; it just felt a bit unserious. Father or no, this is still Almighty God we address. I barely wanted to type that. [Oh, smeg, here comes an anti-evengelical rant!--ed.] Have you gotten the distinct feeling you were in a place where people were talking about God in worship, but not to him? 94% of the time, it's not even intentional. But no wonder we're all confused: it seems like everything in evangelicalism I have seen is geared toward some nebulous "seeker" I have never met, or to his comfort and non-offense. And not that this is bad; I want the people who don't yet know Christ to come; I want the people who could know him more deeply (that'd be all of us) to come, too. But if we're not us as Christians, to what or to whom are we drawing these people? If it...