I've read reviews about what made particular albums great, but I've never read what the criteria for a great album would be. I'm not looking to turn this into an equation and I get why Robin Williams tore the Pritchard pages out in 'Dead Poet's Society', but I'm curious to hear from you, nonetheless.
Is it a certain number of tracks? How many duds is an album allowed before it can no longer be great? How much does being unique have to do with it? How important is melody vs. lyric?
Or is this really just like the thing about pornography "I can't define it, but I know it when I see it"?
Thoughts?
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Friday, March 9, 2007
Hell Pt 2
I realized late last night why this topic had been so hard coming, why it had been so difficult a truth to speak. See, most of the time I preach, I preach truths that I need to hear. It makes it easier to speak hard truths, because I see my own need to hear them and can speak out of empathy. But this week I was seeing things from an “I’m in” vs. “they’re out” perspective.
And therein lies the problem. I was ignoring what Jesus said right before this parable. I forgot who he was talking to.
Jesus chastises the religious folks because they think the fact that they aren’t suffering means that they’re getting things right. They figure they’re in with God simply because they believe in Him and don’t have anything else to worry about, unlike the Gentile outsiders who still risk God’s punishment. Jesus makes clear that this isn’t the case. God isn’t looking for believers, He’s looking for followers. He’s looking for us to produce good fruit.
So this sermon is for me and the church folks as much as it’s for anyone. The Kingdom of God is at hand, it is breaking through into our current reality. And if we’re just sitting around and waiting for the end to come, figuring that our belief is enough, we may have a surprise in store. We are called to be disciples, not believers, we’re called to follow Christ, not just call him “Lord, Lord.”
So, what fruit are we producing? How is the world a better place as a result of our being here? Who, outside of those who are currently a part of this community, would have their world and their lives impacted if we were suddenly gone? How are we going about making sure that the Kingdom is spreading on earth as it is in heaven? What are we doing to combat hell?
Because hell isn’t just about what happens when we die, it’s what results when we try to live without Jesus. It’s what results when we pay his name lip service, but don’t join in his service. Heaven is about the Kingdom and the Kingdom is about mission. It’s about faith the size of a mustard seed that grows into something huge. It’s about the love of God that spreads through a city like yeast in dough. It’s about bearing good fruit, fruit that gives life and hope to those it is offered to. It’s about so much more than simply believing we’re “in” and resting in that hope. It’s about going out and taking the love of Jesus to a world that is broken. It's about feeding people who are hungry and ending slavery and battling addiction and confronting injustice and befriending those who are lost and lonely. It’s about being an outpost and signpost of heaven in a world that is bent on hell.
And therein lies the problem. I was ignoring what Jesus said right before this parable. I forgot who he was talking to.
Jesus chastises the religious folks because they think the fact that they aren’t suffering means that they’re getting things right. They figure they’re in with God simply because they believe in Him and don’t have anything else to worry about, unlike the Gentile outsiders who still risk God’s punishment. Jesus makes clear that this isn’t the case. God isn’t looking for believers, He’s looking for followers. He’s looking for us to produce good fruit.
So this sermon is for me and the church folks as much as it’s for anyone. The Kingdom of God is at hand, it is breaking through into our current reality. And if we’re just sitting around and waiting for the end to come, figuring that our belief is enough, we may have a surprise in store. We are called to be disciples, not believers, we’re called to follow Christ, not just call him “Lord, Lord.”
So, what fruit are we producing? How is the world a better place as a result of our being here? Who, outside of those who are currently a part of this community, would have their world and their lives impacted if we were suddenly gone? How are we going about making sure that the Kingdom is spreading on earth as it is in heaven? What are we doing to combat hell?
Because hell isn’t just about what happens when we die, it’s what results when we try to live without Jesus. It’s what results when we pay his name lip service, but don’t join in his service. Heaven is about the Kingdom and the Kingdom is about mission. It’s about faith the size of a mustard seed that grows into something huge. It’s about the love of God that spreads through a city like yeast in dough. It’s about bearing good fruit, fruit that gives life and hope to those it is offered to. It’s about so much more than simply believing we’re “in” and resting in that hope. It’s about going out and taking the love of Jesus to a world that is broken. It's about feeding people who are hungry and ending slavery and battling addiction and confronting injustice and befriending those who are lost and lonely. It’s about being an outpost and signpost of heaven in a world that is bent on hell.
The Good News of Hell?
The lectionary is a funny thing.
For those not familiar, the lectionary was compiled some time ago as a way for churches to track through the Bible and capture the entire story of what it means to follow Jesus. Those who follow the lectionary (like myself) preach whatever text is given by the common lectionary that week. It's a way to stay connected to the story, to stay connected to the church at large, and to stay free from an agenda that might cause you to focus on certain truths of scripture while avoiding others. It forces "hellfire and brimstone" preachers to speak on love and grace.
And, of course, it forces preachers like me to preach on hell. This week, the common lectionary handed me a passage right out of the "if you died tonight, would you be saved" handbook. And I don't want to preach it. But I can't not. It's in there.
So, what does a preacher do when he doesn't want to preach the truth he's been given. I'm looking for insights. Joe? Adam? What do you guys do?
My college professor of preaching said that all sermons have gospel in them, all of them have good news. I heard once that "the good news of hell is that God gives a damn." I sense the truth of that, yet hesitate to preach it.
And it's Friday. And Sunday's coming.
Thoughts?
For those not familiar, the lectionary was compiled some time ago as a way for churches to track through the Bible and capture the entire story of what it means to follow Jesus. Those who follow the lectionary (like myself) preach whatever text is given by the common lectionary that week. It's a way to stay connected to the story, to stay connected to the church at large, and to stay free from an agenda that might cause you to focus on certain truths of scripture while avoiding others. It forces "hellfire and brimstone" preachers to speak on love and grace.
And, of course, it forces preachers like me to preach on hell. This week, the common lectionary handed me a passage right out of the "if you died tonight, would you be saved" handbook. And I don't want to preach it. But I can't not. It's in there.
So, what does a preacher do when he doesn't want to preach the truth he's been given. I'm looking for insights. Joe? Adam? What do you guys do?
My college professor of preaching said that all sermons have gospel in them, all of them have good news. I heard once that "the good news of hell is that God gives a damn." I sense the truth of that, yet hesitate to preach it.
And it's Friday. And Sunday's coming.
Thoughts?
Reading and Listening
I don't have much to report on the reading front. Finished a few from last time (Kimball and McKinley), still working on some (Saramago, Duncan, and Boyd) and picked up and am in the middle of one new one (Henri Nouwen readings for Lent). To be fair to myself, most of my reading material is either long or dense or both. All fantastic, though.
The exception is one book that I picked up this week and finished in one sitting. John Sellers "Perfect From Now On: How Indie Rock Saved My Life" is a short and not always sweet take on music. Sellers is opinionated, but it a way that you tend to want from music writers. I prefer Klosterman, but Sellers is a great fix until the next Klosterman offering.
As a result of Sellers' book, I am listening to a lot of Guided By Voices, Pavement, The Smiths, Silver Jews, and so on. This was a week for making mixes, so I've been listening to a lot of stuff, but the repeated highlights have been:
Slanted & Enchanted and Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain by Pavement
Bee Thousand by Guided By Voices
American Water by Silver Jews
The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths
Surfer Rosa by the Pixies
If you're looking for definitive albums by these artists, these are my picks for their best offerings.
Enjoy!
The exception is one book that I picked up this week and finished in one sitting. John Sellers "Perfect From Now On: How Indie Rock Saved My Life" is a short and not always sweet take on music. Sellers is opinionated, but it a way that you tend to want from music writers. I prefer Klosterman, but Sellers is a great fix until the next Klosterman offering.
As a result of Sellers' book, I am listening to a lot of Guided By Voices, Pavement, The Smiths, Silver Jews, and so on. This was a week for making mixes, so I've been listening to a lot of stuff, but the repeated highlights have been:
Slanted & Enchanted and Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain by Pavement
Bee Thousand by Guided By Voices
American Water by Silver Jews
The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths
Surfer Rosa by the Pixies
If you're looking for definitive albums by these artists, these are my picks for their best offerings.
Enjoy!
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Acting My Age
| You Are 31 Years Old |
 Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax. |
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