Reformissionary

Dirty Three for $4.99

Dirty Three is some of my very favorite, go-to music for reading and concentration-based study. It's beautiful and different: violin, guitar, and drums. It's like a post-rock classical style, but you have to hear it to understand. So cool. A bunch of albums are $4.99...

• Dirty Three
• Whatever You Love, You Are
• Cinder
• Horse Stories
• Ocean Songs

2012 Reading Plans

I'm working on choosing (or tweaking) a Bible reading plan for my family for 2012 so the kids can each work through some of their ESV Student Study Bibles, and so we can enjoy daily family discussions on what we are all reading at the same time. Thought it might be nice to list a couple of resources I'm looking at for the Bible as well as other good theological and devotional resources. 

Justin Taylor has a wonderful (fairly comprephensive) post on many reading plans out there, including options you may not think of on your own. He also has a post that includes a reading plan for Calvin's Institutes.

Joe Thorn's reading plan for the Puritan prayers found in Valley of Vision might be a great way to start the year devotionally.

The ESV has a number of plans available, and the ESV Journaling Bible I now use daily has a plan in the back I'm considering. 

David Murray, who has quickly become one of my favorite thinkers through his blog and Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary podcast, has a yearly children's morning and evening Bible reading plan. The explanation is here, and the plan is here.

Please feel free to share other plans you recommend or the plan you are using next year.

Over the Rhine for $4.99

Several Over the Rhine albums are $4.99. If you don't know OtR, you should.

• Good Dog Bad Dog
• The Long Surrender
• Ohio
• Drunkard's Prayer
• The Trumpet Child
• Films for Radio
• Discount Fireworks: A Collection
• Christmas Album: Snow Angels

TONS of Good & Cheap Music 12.24.11

Amazon is having a massive sale on MP3 albums. All are $5 or cheaper. Nearly all of my Best Albums of 2011 & honorable mentions are super-cheap! And there are many more great albums for sale beyond my list. Check these out!

NEW = Recently found & added to the original list

From my Best Albums of 2011 list...

• #1 - The Poison Tree: The Poison Tree | $4.99
• #2 - PJ Harvey: Let England Shake | $5
• #4 - Bon Iver: Bon Iver, Bon Iver | $4.99
• #5 - Josh Garrels: Love & War & The Sea In Between | FREE
• #6 - The Field: Looping State of Mind | $4.99
• #7 - Wye Oak: Civilian | $5
• #8 - Low: C'mon | $5
• #9 - The Decemberists: The King Is Dead | $3.99
• #11 - Dawes: Nothing Is Wrong | $4.99
• #12 - James Blake: James Blake | $3.99
• #13 - The Antlers: Burst Apart | $4.99
• #14 - Beirut: The Rip Tide | $4.99
• #15 - The Roots: Undun | $3.99
• #17 - The Horrors: Skying | $5
• #18 - Middle Brother: Middle Brother | $5
• #19 - Fleet Foxes: Helplessness Blues | $5
• #20 - The Joy Formidable: The Big Roar | $3.99
• #21 - Glasser: Ring | $4.99
• #22 - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart: Belong | $4.99
• #23 - Wilco: The Whole Love | $2.99
• #24 - Ha Ha Tonka: Death of a Decade | $5
• #25 - Dolorean: The Unfazed | $4.99
• #26 - The War on Drugs: Slave Ambient | $5
• #27 - Crystal Castles: (II) | $4.99
• #28 - Ryan Adams: Ashes & Fire | $4.99
• #29 - Explosions in the Sky: Take Care, Take Care, Take Care | $4.99
• #30 - My Morning Jacket: Circuital | $4.99
• #31 - Washed Out: Within or Without | $5
• #32 - Okkervil River: I Am Very Far | $5
• #33 - Real Estate: Days | $3.99
• #34 - Cults: Cults | $5
• #35 - Girls: Father, Son, Holy Ghost | $5

Honorable mentions...

• Youth Lagoon: The Year of Hibernation | $4.99
• Gillian Welch: The Harrow & The Harvest | $4.99
• Smith Westerns: Dye It Blonde | $4.99
• Radiohead: The King of Limbs | $4.99
• Atlas Sound: Parallax | $4.99
• Other Lives: Tamer Animals | $4.99
• Sepalcure: Sepalcure | $4.99

 Other recommended albums for $5 and under...

• Five Avett Brothers albums - NEW
• Eight Over the Rhine albums | All $4.99 - NEW
• Five Dirty Three albums | all $4.99 - NEW
• Four Tet: Fabriclife 59 & DJ-Kicks | Both $4.99 - NEW
• Delta Spirit: History From Below (my #4 of 2010) & Ode To Sunshine | $4.99
• The National: High Violet (my #2 of 2010) & The Boxer & Alligator | $4.99
• Shearwater: The Golden Archipelago & Rook | $4.99
• Doug Burr: O Ye Devastator (my #6 of 2010) & On Prominade | $4.99 
• David Ford: Songs for the Road | $4.99 (my #4 of 2008)
• The Antlers: Hospice | $4.99 (my #1 of 2009)
• Arcade Fire: The Suburbs | $5 (my #3 of 2010) & Funeral & Neon Bible | $4.99 - NEW
  
• Titus Andronicus: The Monitor | $4.99 (my #5 of 2010)
• Radiohead: Kid A & | $4.99 - NEW
• The Roots: How I Got Over | $4.99 - NEW
• M83: Saturdays = Youth | $4.99 - NEW
• The Black Keys: The Big Come Up & Thickfreakness & Rubber Factory | $4.99 - NEW
• Radiohead: I Might Be Wrong & Amnesiac & OK Computer & Pablo Honey & The Bends & Tkol Rmx 1234567 & Hail to the Thief & | $4.99 - NEW
• Explosions in the Sky: The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place & Those Who Tell The Truth & All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone & How Strange, Innocence | $4.99
• Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend & Contra | $4.99 - NEW
• Brandi Carlile: Live at Benaroya Hall | $5
• St. Vincent: Strange Mercy | $4.99 - NEW
• Cut Copy: Zonoscope | $5
• The Head & The Heart: The Head & The Heart | $5
• Tom Waits: Bad As Me | $2.99 & Mule Variations | $5
• Feist: Metals | $4.99 - NEW
• Lecrae: Rebel | $4.99 - NEW
• Jay-Z: Watch the Throne | $4.99 - NEW
• Joe Pug: Messenger | $5
• Apparat: The Devil's Walk | $5
• Tron: Legacy - NEW
• Russian Circles: Empros | $5
  
• Blind Pilot: We Are The Tide | $4.99 - NEW
• Sleigh Bells: Treats | $5
• David Bazan: Strange Negotiations | $5
• Animal Collective: Feels | $4.99
• Tune-Yards: W H O K I L L | $5
• Metric: Fantasies & Live It Out & Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? | $4.99 - NEW
• Future Islands: On The Water | $4.99 - NEW
• The Decemberists: The Crane Wife & Picaresque &  & | $4.99 - NEW
• Death Cab for Cutie: Codes & Keys | $5 & Transatlanticism | $4.99 - NEW
• U2: The Joshua Tree | $4.99 - NEW
• James Vincent McMorrow: Early In The Morning | $5
• Surfer Blood: Astro Coast | $5
• Guns N' Roses: Appetite for Destruction | $4.99 - NEW
• Destroyer: Kaputt | $5
• Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes | $5
• The Cave Singers: No Witch | $5
• Apex Manor: The Year of Magical Drinking | $5
• Flogging Molly: Speed of Darkness & Swagger | $5
• Elbow: Build a Rocket Boys! | $5
• Once Soundtrack | $5
• Mumford & Sons: Sigh No More | $4.99
• Kurt Vile: Smoke Ring for my Halo | $5
• Florence + The Machine: Ceremonials | $3.99
• The Civil Wars: Barton Hollow | $4.99
• The Gaslight Anthem: The '59 Sound | $5
• Givers: In Light | $5
• Yuck: Yuck | $5
• Telekinesis: 12 Desperate Straight Lines | $5
• Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix | $5
• Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool | $5
• John Coltrane: Blue Train | $5
• Theolonious Monk: Genius of Modern Music, Vol 1 | $5
• Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: Moanin' | $5

2011 Christmas Card Photo

We're bacon Christmas cookies. What are you bacon?

See previous years of McCoy family Christmas photos.

Avett Brothers MP3 Album Sale

Get music from one of the best bands in the world for cheap right now...

• Emotionalism | $5
• Four Thieves Gone | $5
• Country Was | $4.99
• Mignonette | $4.99
• Live, Vol 2 | $4.99

Bad Art & the Tortured Beauty of the Cross

Wonderful, thoughtful discussion between Scotty Smith (Pastor, Christ Community Church, blog), Greg Thornbury (Union University), and Mike Cosper (Sojourn Music) on good art and bad art. I've been thinking through some of themes they discuss as they relate to some music I've been listening to this year. I'm working on a post on one singer/artist in particular who I think many Christians would hate, but for all the wrong reasons.

Anyway, that post is for another day. Watch this great discussion (via). And by the way, this is the best video thumbnail of my friend Greg Thornbury EVER.

Coach the People Who Get It

Bob Logan with another helpful post on coaching the people who 'get it.' 

Among people who indicate receptivity to missional living, some will be willing to go the extra mile in living it out. Look for those who “get” missional living and are willing to take risks, even if they’re not great at it.

These are the people you need to be investing in...

He then offers some simple questions to use in coaching them...

• Where are you now?
• Where do you sense God tugging on your heart lately?
• Where does God want you to go?
• What actions might God be leading you toward?
• What are the next steps you can take?

Go read Logan's entire post, and follow his blog. Solid stuff there regularly. For example, I recently posted on his post, "Creating a Coaching Culture."

Huge Discount on Pursuing God

From Jim Elliff and Christian Communicators Worldwide...

We want to partner with you in evangelism next year by offering one of our most popular books very close to our cost.

[...]

Our New edition of Pursuing God, Lowest Price Ever plus Free Shipping
(by 10s, 100s or case only)
10 pack  $27.50 ea (reg $40)
100 pack 275.00 ea (reg $310)
Prices good up to Dec 31 midnight.

I've reviewed Pursuing God and recommend it. Grab a bunch! And check out the online discussion guide.

Jesus Visits the Broncos Locker Room

Jesus: "Read the playbook, alright? Do you read that?"
Tebow: "The Holy Bible is my playbook."
Jesus: "Oh. Ok. Great. That's great. That's great. But, uh, you need to read the regular playbook, ok? Seriously, I'm doin' all the work here."

Go watch the video.

Sojourn | A Child Is Born

I'm a huge Sojourn Music fan because I like their music and the rich content of their songs. More than that, I love their music because I love their focus on the Gospel as a church. They are friends and one of my favorite churches around.

I've given a couple of listens to Sojourn Community Church's new Christmas album, A Child Is Born. My word for this album would be "challenging." It's challenging to your ears as it's anything but a typical Christmas album. It's not even close. Their version of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" is "punk-rock inspired," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is poppy, as is "Silent Night." Some of the more subdued and lovely moments on the album are from lesser known lyrics retooled. I love the voices that are now very familiar to me: Brooks Ritter, Jamie Barnes, Megan Shaffer & others. They are always a joy to hear again on new projects. The cover design is lovely and simple.

In many ways, this isn't supposed to be an easy album to hear. From Sojourn's website...

There’s a place for joy, a necessary and central place for celebration, but that joy and celebration has it’s most weight when seen in the context of the suffering and longing from which it emerges. So Christmas music at Sojourn has always had a dark edge, a sense of tension and angst, which points us to the darkness of our own hearts that longs for the light of Christ.

For me, A Child Is Born is an odd album. Taking the familiar and making it unfamiliar. Taking songs typically wrapped in seasonal sounds and re-wrapping them in something unseasonal and unusual. It may not be an easy album for you to like, though I've heard from many who are liking it a lot! Sojourn takes some serious risks in genre and style that will shake your Christmas world. But you will have to be the judge if this darker, grittier version of Christmas is something that will be in your rotation year by year. If nothing else, Sojourn for me has earned a listen as they continue to make music in service of the Church that is out of the ordinary.

Buy A Child is Born: Amazon or for $5 at Grouptune

Also check out: Over the Grave | The Water & The Blood

Good & Cheap Books

David Murray of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary & the blog Head, Heart, Hand has listed Joe Thorn's book, Note To Self, as his #1 book of the year. If you don't have it, get Note To Self.

I’ve never been impacted so much by such a small book. Came at just the right time in my life. It’s a primer on “preaching to yourself,” which in Joe Thorn’s hands is a kind of meditation with muscles. Short, punchy, meaty, heart-searching, and encouraging chapters that make an ideal warm-up for daily Bible reading – at least that’s how I used it. I’ve also found it a great book for mentoring others. With this book, Joe Thorn became my favorite modern Puritan! Hope that doesn’t harm your ministry, Joe!

Cheap Kindle books (several from Shepherd Press)...

• Brothers, We Are Not Professionals by John Piper ($1.99)
• Simple Church by Thom Rainer ($2.99)
• Christ Formed in You by Brian Hedges ($1.99)
• A Proverbs Driven Life by Anthony Selvaggio ($1.99)
• Craftsmen by John Crotts ($1.99)
• Loving the Church by John Crotts ($1.79)
• When Sinners Say "I Do" by Dave Harvey ($1.99)
• Shepherding A Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp ($1.79)
• Instructing a Child's Heart by Tedd & Margy Tripp ($1.79)
• Red Like Blood by Joe Coffey & Bob Bevington ($1.99)
• Everyday Talk by Jay Younts ($1.99)
• Lost in the Middle by Paul David Tripp ($1.99)
• Get Wisdom by Ruth Younts ($1.99)
• Get Outta My Face! by Rick Horne ($1.99)
• Herein Is Love: Genesis by Nancy Ganz ($1.99)

Best Albums of 2011

Time for my Best Albums of 2011 list. I don't listen to everything out there (who has the time? or money?), but I listen to a lot. I hope my list will help you discover some new music. I'll give comment to the higher picks and I'm happy to discuss any of the albums, why I liked them, why some albums are not on my list, etc. Please list your favorite album(s) in the comments. Love to hear'em.

See my Best Albums of 2010|2009|2008|2007|2006

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Atlas Sound: Parallax | The Black Keys: El Camino | The Low Anthem: Smart Flesh | Other Lives: Tamer Animals |  Panda Bear: Tomboy | Radiohead: The King Of Limbs | Sepalcure: Sepalcure | Smith Westerns: Dye It Blonde | Gillian Welch: The Harrow & The Harvest | Youth Lagoon: The Year of Hibernation

ARGUMENTATIVE

tUnE-yArDs: W H O K I L L | As creative as it gets, but not as good of a listen as some say. When I listen, it stretches me but leaves me somehow unsatisfied. I want to both celebrate this accomplishment and punch it in the face.  

ALBUMS 35-21

35. Girls: Father, Son, Holy Ghost

34. Cults: Cults

33. Real Estate: Days

32. Okkervil River: I Am Very Far

31. Washed Out: Within or Without

30. My Morning Jacket: Circuital

29. Explosions in the Sky: Take Care, Take Care, Take Care

28. Ryan Adams: Ashes & Fire

27. Crystal Castles: (II)

26. War On Drugs: Slave Ambient

25. Dolorean: The Unfazed

24. Ha Ha Tonka: Death of a Decade

23. Wilco: The Whole Love

22. The Pains of Being Pure In Heart: Belong

21. Glasser: Ring

ALBUMS 20-11

20. Joy Formidable: The Big Roar | Running through thorn bushes at full speed.

19. Fleet Foxes: Helplessness Blues | Dancing through willow branches in slow motion.

18. Middle Brother: Middle Brother | Love these three guys. Love what they created. But I still like what they do separately better than collectively. That said, it's a great album.

17. The Horrors: Skying | Eerie flight. Bending notes. Worthy of both their name and the album's name.

16. King Creosote & Jon Hopkins: Diamond Mine | Fragile Scottish lullabies. Delicate & delightful. Pipe smoking. Peat beneath my feet.

15. The Roots: Undun | Concept album well conceived. Arrived late, but deserves much attention. Looking forward to more listens.

14. Beirut: The Rip Tide | Not sure they can make a bad record. Distant world flavor. Horntastic. Seasoning for a bland day. 

13. The Antlers: Burst Apart | Please keep making music! They are doing amazing things, first through Hospice and now with Burst Apart. A wonderful follow-up to a crazy-good album.

12. James Blake: James Blake | Audio playground. A sonic dance. Ear candy...that's good for you. A blend of a powerful voice and eclectic editing and creative processing. It continues to grow on me.

11. Dawes: Nothing Is Wrong | Opening song, "Time Spent in Los Angeles," is one of my favorite songs of the year. I think I once listened to it 5 times in a row. Songwriting excellence. Lyric-driven rock'n'roll. 

TOP 10

10. Decemberists: The King Is Dead | Their best-ever album. So many good songs. Thoroughly enjoyable. Completely accessible, yet it's well-crafted art and deserving of high praise. "Bear your neighbors' burden within reason." Singable. If you are weirded out by indie music, let this album invite you in.

9. Frank Turner: England Keep My Bones | Passionate. Straight-forward = says what he means. Atheistic worship songs, but don't let that discourage you. Redemptive themes throughout. It's incredibly informative, enjoyable, and artistic. Loud, but acoustically controlled loud. Sing-along with beer in hand. Punk sensibilities. Masterful. At times it's old-school Avettastic screamishness.

8. Low: C'mon | Some of the most memorable lyrics of the year are here. Some because of word choice, and some because of how they are presented. The critical calling out of "all you guys out there tryin’ to act like Al Green, y'all are weak." "I'm nothing but heart" repeated for 6 minutes in a slow, heavy, glorious swell. "Try to sleep" and "don't look at the camera" on the opening track captured by a wonderful, memorable melody. As a whole this album is a slow crawl... beautiful, often delicately heavy, and always unsettlingly moody. A haunting album that won't leave you alone.

7. Wye Oak: Civilian | Moaning. Longing. Power on the edge of letting go. Back-n-forth between cleanly crafted & fuzzy heaviness. Dark. Haunted. A sense that something isn't quite right in the world. Uneasy. Wonderfully disjointed at times. What you create after a disturbing dream brings you to your knees.

6. The Field: Looping State of Mind | It is looping, ambient soundscapes. Perfect for work, reading, etc. Or, and maybe more important, it's perfect for putting the headphones on, laying down, turning it up, and riding along. These steady slow builds and gradual descents are a joy to navigate. And beyond mere ambient sounds without structure, that can be a pleasure as well, these tracks are guided by heavy beats and basslines. So while the music soars, it also stomps, stomps, stomps along. 

5. Josh Garrels: Love & War & The Sea In Between | Listened to this album more than most. Poetic. Rhythmic. Completely Christ-haunted and distinctly Christian, yet some of the best music of the year Christian or otherwise. I can't believe how little buzz I've seen about this album. It's really wonderful. And it's 100% FREE, which means everyone should be checking out and loving this album. And then you'll want to check out Josh's other albums.

4. Bon Iver: Bon Iver, Bon Iver | I wanted to rate this lower simply because I loved For Emma, Forever Ago so much. I need objectivity! Stupid me. While losing the romance of discovery of Justin Vernon's falsetto and magical soundscapes that came with For Emma, this album establishes his genius as a lasting force. I ranted last year on Twitter that Vernon should stop making side projects and stick to Bon Iver. My goodness. He did.

3. M83: Hurry Up We're Dreaming | I enjoyed M83's 2008 album, Saturdays = Youth, though I seem to remember finding it late. I was interested when I hear a new album was coming. I didn't know I should be this interested. It adds more soar, more lift, more joy to 80's shoegaze. It also adds more epic views of despair. It really is a masterpiece that I, so far, haven't been able to stop listening to. The first five songs alone are worth the price of the album. I wish John Hughes was around to hear this.

2. PJ Harvey: Let England Shake | A remarkable album. Disturbing. Poignant. WWI, war-time, yet universal at all times to the war-torn everywhere. Quirky. Odd. Rare. PJ's voice is a perfect kind of shrill (if there is such a thing) for these creative arrangements. On deck during a colossal battle, the siren of the ocean sings beyond view through the storm & cannons. The guts of dead soldiers are clearly in view.

1. The Poison Tree: The Poison Tree | Lovely & subtly massive. Cinematic. Baritone vocals. Literary. Charming. Moody. Introspective. Wistful. Barely wet city streets. Black and white. Hands-in-pockets. Collar pulled tight. Good penmanship, elegant words, antique fountain pen on an antique journal on an antique table in a sparsely decorated and lonely room. Life...experienced. Calmly dramatic. This album is almost completely and shamefully neglected. It's a rarely reviewed 2011 masterpiece. It's not #1 because it's neglected. It's #1 because it's gorgeous and brilliant. Please buy it...and be moved.

Cheap Albums 12.19.11

A handful of really good, cheap albums right now. All $3.99 unless listed otherwise.

• Girls: Father, Son, Holy Ghost
• The Joy Formidable: The Big Roar
• Cut/Copy: Zonoscope
• James Blake: James Blake
• The Roots: Undun
• Real Estate: Days
• Coldplay: Parachutes & A Rush of Blood to the Head ($2.99 each)
  
• Death Cab for Cutie: Codes & Keys
• $5 Albums for December

James Blake Covers Joni Mitchell | "A Case of You"

This is the best thing you will watch/listen to today. Just wonderful. James Blake's self-titled 2011 album is only $3.99. You can get "A Case of You" on Blake's Enough Thunder EP.

Patrick Kane | Sick Shootout Goal

One of the best shootout goals I've seen. And at the end, one of the easiest. When you are as fast, creative, and as dangerous as Patrick Kane, this is how you can end a game. Awesome.

Tim Tebow Mic'd Vs The Bears

Very interesting video of Tim Tebow mic'd up against the Bears. I'm a big Bears fan, so this isn't all that fun for me. But it's interesting enough to post. FYI, Tim Tebow isn't a very good singer. :)

Life On Mission | Jeff Vanderstelt

Jeff Vanderstelt of Soma Communities talks about how missional communities (mc's) do mission. If you aren't familiar with missional communities, or the way they are done at Soma, this is fascinating. He talks about every member mission, how and why mc's write their own covenants after choosing a people group they intend to reach together, how the church commissions them for the mission, coaching mc's get, and more. The covenant answers: "What would it look like for us to radically reorient our lives on a daily, weekly, monthly basis to reach those people together?"

Lots-o-Links 12.15.11

5 Ways Wives Can Encourage Their Husbands | Jared Wilson

When you nitpick and nag, you give mouthpiece to the accuser who wants your husband to know not only does he not have what it takes, he is worthless because of it. So find ways to constructively criticize and help him repent, but more than that, tell him what you like about him, how you find him attractive or admirable, how you respect him or are impressed by him. Outdo him in showing honor (Rom. 12:10).

Coming Together On Culture, Part 1: Theological Issues  | Tim Keller

On the surface, the Reformed and evangelical world seems divided between "Cultural Transformationists" and the "Two Kingdoms" views of these things. Transformationists fall into fairly different camps, including the neo-Calvinists who follow Abraham Kuyper, the Christian Right, and the theonomists. Though different in significant ways, they all believe Christians should be about redeeming and changing the culture along Christian lines.

Pencil Does Not Fade | Joe Thorn

A cursory search on the internet shows most people stating as fact, “Writing in pencil will fade over time.” Rather than trust the opinion of some random dude on Yahoo Answers who hasn’t even read an article on the subject, I thought I would ask some people who could give me better direction. So I contacted the National Archives. They were happy to answer my questions quickly and provide helpful references. After a few email exchanges with people who spend their time in historic documents, here is the bottom line for those wondering if writing in pencil will fade.

Graphite pencil is a very stable material.  It does not fade in light. It does not bleed in water unless other dyes were added.

Mark Dever - Reading Sibbes Aloud | After purchasing the 7 vol Works of Richard Sibbes I was reminded that Mark Dever, who literally wrote the book on Sibbes, has read aloud a number of Sibbes sermons. A nice idea, and worth checking out.

How To Share Your Faith | Jeff Vanderstelt

Matisyahu Minus Beard

Read Matisyahu's reasons for shaving his beard & dropping his "Chassidic reggae superstar" look...

This morning I posted a photo of myself on Twitter.

No more Chassidic reggae superstar.

Sorry folks, all you get is me…no alias. When I started becoming religious 10 years ago it was a very natural and organic process. It was my choice. My journey to discover my roots and explore Jewish spirituality—not through books but through real life. At a certain point I felt the need to submit to a higher level of religiosity…to move away from my intuition and to accept an ultimate truth. I felt that in order to become a good person I needed rules—lots of them—or else I would somehow fall apart. I am reclaiming myself. Trusting my goodness and my divine mission.

Get ready for an amazing year filled with music of rebirth. And for those concerned with my naked face, don’t worry…you haven’t seen the last of my facial hair.

- Matisyahu

(via)

Joy Ending & Joy Eternal

On Saturday I had the privilege to speak to a mausoleum full of people who lost and buried loved ones last year at McHenry County Memorial Park. An employee of the cemetery is a family friend, which opened the opportunity to preach for about 20 minutes from the first two Beatitudes. 

I wanted to share with you some free music from The Joy Eternal: A Sweet & Bitter Providence (download below) which I found to be very encouraging during my prep week for this event. John Piper readings are featured in these songs, and he says this about the music...

Big truth and beautiful sounds are a powerful combination. The Joy Eternal has touched me both ways. One of my biblical sieves for what is real is the apostolic word 'sorrowful yet always rejoicing.' I hear that in these songs, and they ring true. Beautifully true. May God give them wings.

Also check out The Joy Eternal on Facebook | Twitter

This Is Why Auto-Tune Was Invented

Most of the time Auto-Tune is used to make bad things sound better. Fail. Every so often, it makes awesome things sound even better. Tim Tebow. All he does is win. Featuring Skip Bayless, John Elway, and others. (via)

Cut Copy | Zonoscope

Cut/Copy's 2011 album, Zonoscope, is $3.99.
Solid reviews: Pitchfork 86/100. Paste 82/100.

The National with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver

The National and guest, Justin Vernon of Bon Iver singing "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks." Song is off The National's outstanding 2010 album, High Violet.

Cruciform Press Sale | $2.99 & Under

Sale on Cruciform Press eBooks. Kindle books from $0.99-$2.99! Go get'm!

$0.99

• Sexual Detox: A Guide for Guys Who Are Sick of Porn | Tim Challies

$2.99

• Awaiting a Savior: The Gospel, the New Creation and the End of Poverty | Aaron Armstrong
• “But God…” — The Two Words at the Heart of the Gospel | Casey Lute
• Grieving, Hope and Solace: When a Loved One Dies in Christ | Albert N. Martin
• Intentional Parenting: Family Discipleship by Design | Tad Thompson
• Smooth Stones: Bringing Down the Giant Questions of Apologetics | Joe Coffey
• The Organized Heart: A Woman’s Guide to Conquering Chaos | Staci Eastin

(for ePub or PDF go here)

Bryan Chapell on William Cowper

I just finished listening to "The Gift of a Crooked Stick: The Life of William Cowper" Part 1 & Part 2 (source) from Dr. Bryan Chapell & the Living Christ Today podcast. Wonderfully done, thought-provoking, meditative, sad, & redemptive. I encourage you to listen. Here's my transcript of the words from Bryan Chapell near the end of Part 2...

What we are, what we shall be, is only a result not of what's in our hands to do, what we can hold on to, what we can claim, but the sole fact that in our weakness, in our lowliness, in our being despicable, Christ alone is all in all. He is our only righteousness, holiness, and redemption. 

What that means for you, and for me I suppose, is that when I look at somebody with the frailties and the failures of William Cowper, I begin to rejoice in this: If God could use such a feeble man, if God could use such a crooked stick to draw such wonderfully straight and beautiful lines, then He can use me and you. Despite our frailty and our weakness and our difficulties. I look at William Cowper and I recognize you don't have to have a great reputation or even a great faith, not a spotless record or a shining reputation, not a great past, not even a great future, to be greatly used. William Cowper tells me that the instruments of God's plan do not have to be well suited to that plan to be well used in it. And when I face my failures, when I know I have not done what I should as I should, even find myself despicable, I can say, "But God can still use you. After all, He used William Cowper." It really is a surprising grace, in the worst of spots, the place we least expect it, that God would use such a one. In God's use of this desparing poet, I just learn there's hope for my use by God.

For more on William Cowper: John Piper's 1992 Pastor's Conference biography, Wikipedia, Poets.org.

McCoy Christmas Card Photos 2007-2010

Here are the last 4 years in Christmas card photos we have sent out. I'll post our 2011 Christmas card photo when the time comes. 

2010

2009

2008

2007

$1.99 on Kindle | Two Leadership Books

For $1.99 each on Kindle pick up John Piper's excellent book on pastoral ministry, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, and Dave Kraft's Re:Lit book, Leaders Who Last.

Shearwater | "Breaking the Yearlings"

Shearwater is one of my favorite bands. I first discovered them because frontman, Jonathan Meiburg, played with Okkervil River. Post-Okkervil Meiburg & Shearwater are now a force of their own. Their last three full-length albums, the Island Arc trilogy, are wonderful: Golden Archipelago, Rook, and Palo Santo. Their new album, Animal Joy, drops on Valentine's Day. More at their new label, Sub Pop.

Check out "Breaking the Yearlings" and the new sound of Shearwater...

Austin Stone Live

After attending the first Verge Conference at The Austin Stone, I became a fan of Aaron Ivey (@AaronIvey) and his album, Between the Beauty & Chaos. It's one of the most played worship albums on my iPod and in my house. Then at the recent Together for Adoption Conference in Phoenix I met (several times... inside joke) Jimmy McNeal (@JimmyMcSings), who should have a worship album releasing next year. Loved the times of corporate worship led by Jimmy and the songs he brought.

So when I heard a new Austin Stone Live album was on the way, featuring Aaron & Jimmy, I was excited to hear it. Today I've been streaming the recording of their live concert from last night. It includes some songs from T4A Conference, and I'm really enjoying it. Watch it here. Buy it at iTunes.

Richard Sibbes | Two Sorts of People

There be two sorts of people always in the visible church, one that Satan keeps under with false peace, whose life is nothing but a diversion to present contentments, and a running away from God and their own hearts, which they know can speak no good unto them; these speak peace to themselves, but God speaks none. Such have nothing to do with this Scripture, Ps xlii 11; the way for these men to enjoy comfort, is to be soundly troubled. True peace arises from knowing the worst first, and then our freedom from it. It is a miserable peace that riseth from ignorance of evil. The angel 'troubled the waters,' John v. 4, and then it cured those that stepped in. It is Christ's manner to trouble our souls first, and then to come with healing in his wings.

But there is another sort of people, who being drawn out of Satan's kingdom and within the covenant of grace, whom Satan labours to unsettle and disquiet: being the 'god of this world,' 2 Cor. iv. 4, he is vexed to see men in the world, walk above the world. Since he cannot hinder their estate, he will trouble their peace, and damp their spirits, and cut asunder the sinews of all their endeavours. These should take themselves to task as David doth here, and labour to maintain their portion and the glory of a Christian profession.

Richard Sibbes, Vol 1, p 127 | The Soul's Conflict With Itself

Bob Logan | Create a Coaching Culture

Bob Logan lists what he calls, The Barnabas Questions, originally given by Carl George. These questions help create a coaching culture. And they are very simple.

1. How are you?
2. What are you celebrating?
3. What challenges are you experiencing?
4. What do you plan to do about these challenges?
5. How can I help you?
6. How can I pray for you?

Read Bob's post.

Tim Keller | Google Talk On Marriage

Tim Keller is 100 gifts to the Church. Maybe one of the most important is his ability to talk to non-Christians & intellectuals. Here's his hour long talk to the employees at Google on The Meaning of Marriage. How many Christians could talk to this crowd in such a reasonable and inviting way on an issue of decreasing weight in our culture? Wonderful. (HT:JT)

Ryan Adams | "Lucky Now"

"Lucky Now" from Ryan Adams' new album, Ashes & Fire. Lyrics below.

I don’t remember were we wild and young?
All that faded into memory
I feel like somebody I don’t know
Are we really who we used to be?
Am I really who I was?

The lights will draw you in
And the dark will bring you down
And the night will break your heart
But only if you’re lucky now

Waiting outside while you find your keys
Like bags of trash in the blackening snow
City of neon and toes that freeze
We’ve got nothing and nowhere to go
We’ve got nothing and nowhere

And the lights will draw you in
And the dark will take you down
And the night will break your heart
But only if you’re lucky now

And if the lights draw you in
And the dark can take you down
And love will mend your heart
But only if you’re lucky now

I don’t remember were we wild and young?
All that’s faded into memory
I feel like somebody I don't know
Are we really who we used to be?
Am I really who I was?

Some Lists | Best Albums of 2011

Some year-end lists of the best albums of 2011 are coming out. Some are right up my alley and some challenge, uh, my alley. Best of lists aren't only good to compare your own favorites, but to discover albums you may not have found otherwise. I'm already listening to a couple of albums I would have ignored if not for showing up on a respected list. Check some of these out (several compiled by the excellent Stereogum).

• Paste | Top 50
• Uncut | Top 50
• Mojo | Top 50
• Q | Top 50
• Stereogum | Top 50
• Filter | Top 10
• Chicago Tribune | Greg Kot Top 20
• Metacritic | 2011 Music Critic Top 10 Lists - a collection of all top lists, and using those rankings to give weight to overall best of 2011 list

Liberate Conference

I hope some of you will be able to make Liberate 2012 in February.

Keller | Preaching in a Secular Culture

From Tim Keller's new article, "Preaching in a Secular Culture," on some practices for preaching to secular people...

• Solve all problems with the gospel
• Beware of assumptions
• Engage in apologetics
• Provide applications for both parties
• Be authentic
• Be conscious of alienating language
• Expect, and respect, doubt
• Address the wider community
• Draw on cultural references
• Read across the spectrum

For more on these 10 practices and a lot more on preaching in a secular culture, go read the whole article.

$5 Albums for December 2011

Some great $5 albums at Amazon for December. At least a couple will end up on my best of 2011. Go check out some great music, especially my favorites below...

• Wye Oak: Civilian
• Youth Lagoon: The Year of Hibernation
• Radiohead: Kid A
• Jonsi: Go
• The Roots: How I Got Over
• Tune-Yards: W H O K I L L
• Iron & Wine: The Shepherd's Dog
• The Civil Wars: Barton Hollow
• Ha Ha Tonka: Death of a Decade
• John Hiatt: Dirty Jeans & Mudslide Hymns
• Crystal Castles: (II)
• Slave Ambient: The War On Drugs
• M. Ward: Post-War
• Neutral Milk Hotel: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
• Telekinesis: 12 Desperate Straight Lines
• Florence + The Machine: Lungs
• She & Him: Volume 2
• Modest Mouse: Good News For People Who Love Bad News
• Ray LaMontagne: Till the Sun Turns Black
• R.E.M.: Green
• Bruce Springsteen: Greatest Hits
• Check out all 100 $5 albums for December and tell me which albums I should check out that didn't make my list

Stupid Tom Brady

He never gives up and you know he's going to get a touchdown...