Music Monday 8.17.09 Addendum

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Boom. The Avett Brothers. Can't wait until next Monday to share, and I haven't even watched it yet! Trust me, it's the Avett's so it's great.

Music Monday 8.17.09

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Headphones 2 You need good & cheap music, so try Joe Henry: Blood From Stars for only $3.99.

I've really been enjoying Regina Spektor's new album, Far. Her previous album, Begin to Hope, was my introduction to her music and my #8 album of 2006. She can be playful and profound in the same breath, and has a beautiful voice. "Laughing With" is simple yet thought-provoking. Follow the lyrics. Here's a snippit...

No one laughs at God
When the cops knock on their door
And they say we got some bad news, sir
No one’s laughing at God
When there’s a famine or fire or flood

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
God can be funny,
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious
Ha ha

Other Lives has been haunting me for several weeks now. I keep coming back to their self-titled album (also check their EP). The sweeping, epic feel haunts me. Listen to "It Was the Night"...

Music Monday 8.10.09

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Here's some good, cheap music thanks to Amazon...

Great Lake Swimmers with "New Light" (download album for $8.99, CD)...

Passion Pit on Fallon with "The Reeling." Love this band's album, Manners (download for $7.99, CD)...

And the Arctic Monkeys with their new song "Crying Lightning"...

Summerbia: Connection Tools

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A few weeks back I wrote about connecting with suburbanites during the summer.I mentioned participating in cultural events, being servants through things like coaching sports, and having hospitable events like cookouts.  With 5 full weeks left we still have a lot of great opportunities to connect. I’ve noticed in my life and in the life of my family that 5 tools have stood out this summer as helpful for connecting with our neighbors. Here they are for you. I hope you’ll add to the list.

invite-cards11. Invite Cards — My church, Doxa Fellowship, just recently had some branding work done and immediately had some invite cards created. If your church doesn’t have them, I highly recommend getting some done. They are simple, attractive business cards with key church info.  On ours we have the church name, website and email on the front and our Sunday location and time, including a map, on the back.

I have invite cards in my wallet, backpack, both cars, camera case, etc. I don’t drop them under windshield wipers or “accidentally” leave them lying around. The last thing people need is to feel like your church is the same as the going-out-of-business furniture store. I use them relationally. They give a better connection to our church when meeting someone or having a conversation.

I think after a shipping snafu we ended up paying $25 for 1,000 cards. You can get them plenty cheap, and they are of great value.  I pass them out all the time. I keep them in front of my face as an encouragement to use them. I have a stack by where I set my wallet and keys. I put 3 on the table at the café when I sit down to read or work and see if I can give them out before I leave. It’s a great tool.

tennis-ball2. Tennis Ball — I have two sports-oriented kids who will watch girls softball if nothing else is on. One thing we have learned to do is always keep a tennis ball in the car, in our swimming pool bag, in Elijah’s bat bag, etc. When we are at the pool and they force that 15 minute break, we grab the ball and play “hot box” in the grass. Hot box is where you have two bases, a guy catching at each base, and everyone else is a baserunner trying to advance but not get an out. And guess what. Kids see us playing and want to join in every time we play.

A few days ago we had about ten kids playing hot box at the pool. Just last night we were on the Woodstock Square for a band concert. We took the tennis ball and started up a game of hot box well off to the side. Sure enough others joined in. We’ve connected with parents and kids by just having fun with my kids and inviting others to join in.

A tennis ball is nice because it’s heavy enough to throw hard and soft enough to not damage someone. But if you aren’t baseball oriented try a good nerf football (you need to be able to really throw it or it’s worthless), a frisbee, hacky sack, bag toss (sorry, I won’t call it “c*orn hole). You have nerdy kids? Cool. Embrace it. Bring extra magnifying glasses and invite kids to burn ants. Or if nothing else works, just play a game of tag.

mosquito_repel_deet-7075343. Extra ______ — It’s happened to you. You are at the pool or the park and someone didn’t bring something they needed. Maybe it’s a water bottle. Maybe it’s bug spray or sunscreen. I was golfing several weeks ago and someone needed a Tums. I had one. When you go somewhere, bring extra consumables and be aware of folks around you who might be suffering from forgetting something or a lack of planning. Be over-prepared and generous.

It doesn’t need to just be consumables. Early in the Little League season it was cold and we would have plenty of blankets in the van for our family and for others if needed. Bring an extra umbrella if it might rain. It’s snowing? Bring an extra sled.

The key here is to think of others when planning for your events and outings. Whatever you need for yourself, just add more. We leave bug spray, sunscreen, umbrellas, sweatshirts, wet wipes, lawn chairs, and water bottles in the car pretty much at all times.

4. Camera — I can’t tell you how many times I have my camera with me and see someone trying to get a “family picture” with one member of the family holding the disposable camera. I let them get their shot and then tell them I’m happy to get a photo with my camera and email it to them. They love it. Most often I just tell them I’ll take the photo and they can see and download it on Flickr. I carry Moo mini cards with my name, email address and Flickr address on it.

3727395120_e2a139b845I also like to grab photos of other people and/or their kids in the park, playing baseball, etc, and then give them a Moo card. In the last few weeks Elijah (8) played on the 7-8 year old all-star team. I took a handful of photos, put them on Flickr, and gave a Moo card to every parent and coach. Same with the 9 year old team. Same with Danny’s (6) bittie ball team. The commissioner of the entire Woodstock Little League organization has been grabbing my photos for next year’s book because of it. Lots of great connections. A few weeks ago a woman in Woodstock was getting a photo of her kids by a piece of local art and I told her to pose with her kids and I’d email her the photo.

If you have a decent camera, it can be a great tool for making connections with your neighbors.

k12651495. Courage — How often do you kick yourself for not striking up a conversation? Or are you so bad at it that you just gave up and don’t even feel bad about it anymore? We need a renewed courage to strike up conversations along the way.

I’m an introvert. Everyone in my church thinks I’m an extrovert because I’ve forced myself to learn to strike up conversations when in public, though I’m still learning how.

Having invite cards, tennis balls, a can of Cutter and a Nikon won’t get you anywhere without a little courage to gently push into the lives of others with an opportunity to serve them. Too often people won’t ask for help. They will swat the mosquitoes rather than asking if you might have spray. Often the kids will stand on the sideline and watch us play catch rather than ask to join in.

Once you are prepared with a few “connection tools” you have to be looking and longing to be involved in the lives of others. You have to find opportunities, and open your mouth. “Want to play with us?” “You know, that picture of your wife would look better with you in it. How about if I get a picture for you?” “Skittles?” Once you have a way to connect, go ahead, connect!

Let me know some tools you have found helpful for connecting with your neighbors.

*Originally posted at sub•text

Blogging Reboot

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6a00e54edf3719883400e554cce4558833-800wi Hey all. A bit of a blog update for you.

As some of you have mentioned and many of you have noticed, I've been doing a minimal amount of blogging for a while now. Several reasons for that, some of which I'll be blogging on soon. I do hope to get back on it in the days and weeks to come.

I'm getting hungry to say something again, and to get discussion started on important issues. I also have a lot to say about our church transition: the good, bad, and ugly. Plenty to say about each!

I appreciate you guys hanging around.

Music Monday: Review of One 7.27.09

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41fw+J5gBWL._SL500_AA280_ I've been asked to review Austin City Life Church's new EP, One (download, listen at MySpace)

This is the first time I've heard any music from Jonathan Dodson's Austin City Life Church. I know Jonathan as an Acts 29 planter and blogger (Creation Project & Church Planting Novice). I was offered this new EP for review and was happy to help out a friend. I'm always weary of helping out friends because it's hard to be critical (if need be). Add to that, as most of my regular readers know, I'm not a fan of most Christian music, and I'm not usually very excited about new worship music. I'm happy to say I can heartily recommend this EP.

I'm always afraid early EP's by churches will be low quality. This is an outstanding, quality recording with great voices. I'm already thinking about how quickly we can get them into our worship times at Doxa. A great opener, "In Your Name," got me hooked with this chorus, encouraging us to respond to our time of worship with missional action...

And oh that this city would know your love!
And oh that this city would feel your touch!
And oh ...that this city would live with Hope---!

Give us hands to touch
Give us hearts of love!

And then the song builds and soars with these words...

We love because you loved
We pray because you prayed
We give because you gave
We live for your fame
We hope because you save
We believe in your name

"Community Song" is a community both crying out for healing and felling compelled into mission...

we’re a community of the broken, your love is changing us, your love is here
the love of Christ can heal the broken, bring us together and wipe away our tears

we’re a community of the forgiven, the past is gone and today is here
the love of Christ can offer forgiveness, heal our hearts and redeem our wasted years

hallelujah God is with us
hallelujah grace is here

we’re a community who wants to love you, love our neighbors, let your love shine
the love of Christ can change this city if it can change a broken heart like mine

Another original songs is "Fullness of God"...

We were once far away
From the reality of grace
We were sinners estranged from our Father
But in love you came
To take away our shame
To present us as clean sons and daughters

In you all the fullness of God
Was pleased to dwell forever
Through you we are reconciled
By the blood of your cross

So we sing to the name above all
The name of Jesus
The name by which we are saved
So we sing to the King above all
King Jesus
You are worthy of all praise
So we sing to you, Jesus

The EP is rounded out with three historic/updated songs, "What Wondrous Love Is This," "Lord Have Mercy," and "How Great Thou Art." All are very appealing arrangements with already great lyrics.

I'm very impressed with One. This is good stuff folks. I'd say I've already listened to it at least 20 times, and I just don't normally get into worship music like this. Go download it right now.

Music Monday 7.20.09

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I'll have a review soon of Austin City Life Church's One EP. You should check it out at MySpace. You can also check out the new The Dodos album, Time to Die, for free.

You could do worse than spend $8.99 of your hard-earned cash on We Were Promised Jetpacks new album, These Four Walls. I'm enjoying it very much.

New video from Passion Pit (download only $7.99, CD), "To Kingdom Come"...

One of our favorite concert venues is The Pabst Theater in Milwaukee. Here's a video of Grizzly Bear playing "All We Ask" (download album, CD) in the balcony. It's kinda like a Take Away Show, only with a lot of "Pabst" in it.

Music Monday 7.13.09

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You need some good, cheap music...

Explosions in the Sky: How Strange, Innocence - $1.99
Coldplay: Parachutes - $5
The Beach Boys: Summer Love Songs - $5, 20 great tracks

Manchester Orchestra with "My Friend Marcus" (album Mean Everything to Nothing)...

Manchester Orchestra "My Friend Marcus" (Altpress.com Exclusive) from Alternative Press on Vimeo.

Curator: Writing About Music is Like Dancing About Architecture

Blitzen Tapper's video for "Black River Killer" (album Furr) is a little creepy, but pretty cool...

I'm still trying to figure out whether or not I want to buy the new Dirty Projectors album, Bitte Orca. It's getting very good reviews and I like some of the samples I've heard. Nice to get a full track to try out, "Stillness is the Move"...

Phriday is for Photos 7.3.09

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A couple of pictures from the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. In the first some color blind dude tried to get away with something. In the second...uh...maybe the same thing? Second is Timmy Brister.  I just want to make sure the search engines locate that picture with anyone searching for "Timmy Brister." Thanks for the pose, Timmy Brister! All my photography.

Review: Sojourn - Over the Grave

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Over-the-grave-album-cover-300x271 For a while now I've been spreading the word about Sojourn Church in Louisville, Kentucky. It's one of those all-too-rare churches that understands both deep theological truth and creativity. Their influence is spreading around the web through Travel Blog, Sojourn Music (blog), The Open Sourcebook, and more.

I have almost all of Sojourn's CDs: Songs for the Advent, Before the Throne, These Things I Remember. They get regular play in my house, especially on Sunday mornings. We also use them pre/post worship at Doxa. They are unique in my collection because the music is so often unexpected. It's a different level of creativity. If I listen to Hillsong I'm basically listening to the same stuff as a number of other worship bands out there. They aren't bad. I like some of them. But they don't surprise me. I don't consider them all that interesting. Sojourn music always surprises me. It's always interesting. And it's a great example of how to be both theologically deep & artistic.

Sojourn's brand new CD is Over the Grave: The Hymns of Isaac Watts, Vol 1.  The first track, "Warrior," continues to blow me away. It's a most unusual worship song and wonderfully creative. Listen to it at Sojourn MySpace.

Honor and majesty divine
Around his sacred temple shine
Grace and might so long foretold
In crowns of glory, not of gold

Your hand shall find out every foe
And as a fiery furnace glows
With raging heat and living coals
They will feel your wrath upon their souls

Oh the warrior will conquer all
The world will fall before His feet

Molly and I had the privilege to be led in worship at the Baptist21 discussion at Sojourn last week. They played one of my favorite new songs, "Only Your Blood." Powerful.

Lord create my heart anew (Father come and make us wise)
Only you are pure and true (Lead us away from our demise)
Lord you are the remedy (For only your blood can set us free)

No bleeding bird, no bleeding beast
No hyssop branch no priest
No running brook no flood no sea
Can wash away this stain from me.

For only your blood is enough to cover my sin
For only your blood is enough to cover me.

One more song I'd like to highlight is "Refuge." This sounds a bit more simple, more like other worship songs you've heard. But that also might make it a helpful bridge to their more complex stuff.

I know my days are in Your hands though I draw near to dust
You are the God in whom I trust, You are my refuge.
So lift up your voice and sing aloud, and praise Him all you saints,
How wondrous is His grace, He is our refuge.

I also appreciate how Sojourn makes it easy for us by providing chord sheets for each song. Here's the track list...

1. Warrior (inspired by “Psalm 21” by Isaac Watts)  view the chord sheet

2. Living Faith (adapted from “Hymn 140” by Isaac Watts)  view the chord sheet

3. How Long? (Psalm 13) (inspired by “Psalm 13”)  view the chord sheet

4. Only Your Blood Is Enough (adapted from “Psalm 51, pt 2”)  view the chord sheet

5. Reveal Your Love (inspired by “Psalm 90, pt. 2”)  view the chord sheet

6. Over Death (adapted from “Hymn 17”)  view the chord sheet

7. Alas And Did My Savior Bleed (adapted from “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed”)  view the chord sheet

8. May Your Power Rest On Me (inspired by “Hymn 15”)  view the chord sheet

9. Refuge (adapted from “Psalm 31, pt. 1”)  view the chord sheet

10. We Are Changed (adapted from “Hymn 95”)  view the chord sheet

11. Savior King (adapted from “Hymn 10”)   view the chord sheet

I wholeheartedly recommend you pick up Sojourn's Over The Grave. For now you can buy it at Sojourn's site. In the weeks ahead it should be available for download on Amazon, iTunes, etc.

Music Monday 6.29.09

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The King of Pop is gone. Say what you want after a life with many problems, the dude could bring it back in the day. Feet barely touched the ground.

You need to watch the brand new Avett Brothers' Tiny Desk Concert. Wonderful. This may be the greatest band in the world. Really. Also, new Paste article on them: Rockin' Steady Wins the Race. Resurgence and Matt Johnson has Thoughts on Music for the Media-Gorged in five parts now. Joe Pug is offering a free EP. Nice. I'm going to review Sojourn's new CD, Over The Grave, either later today or early this week. Look for that.

Last chance for some great $5 albums at Amazon. Available for one more day, Reformissionary Recommends these great albums...

One of my favorite new songs is from We Were Promised Jetpacks (great name). Here's "Quiet Little Voices"...

Music - 6.17.09

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A family trip to Six Flags, decided on at the last minute, derailedmy Music Monday post. But I haven't forgotten you. A few nuggets.

First, major props to @tpgraham who twittered me last week to tell me about The Low Anthem's new album, Oh My God Charlie Darwin (download, CD). A real find. Metacritic has them at 80 which is really good. Here's "Charlie Darwin" (lyrics)...

I've really been enjoying the new, self-titled album from Other Lives (download only $5, CD). "Paper Cities" should be a good first taste for you...

Lastly, some live Beirut, "Nantes," (off of The Flying Club Cup) to make your day better...

Lots-o-Links 6.13.09

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Music Monday 6.8.09

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Go watch the Great Lake Swimmers Tiny Desk Concert.

Paste lists it's 6 gateway jazz albums for rock elitists.

Love this new track from We Were Promised Jetpacks: "Irritable Majesty."

Silversun Pickups rock out with "Panic Switch"...

Doves were on Jimmy Fallon. Great performance and song. Sorry, I can't figure out how to resize it to fit better, but it's worth it...

Fan video of Grizzly Bear with Leslie Feist. Fun. If you haven't picked up their excellent album, Veckatimest (download, CD), you are missing out.

Lots-o-Links 6.2.09

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Molly profile pic Brief Molly Update: All is very well with Molly and her Chiari issues. Sleeping is pretty much completely normal. She is taking no meds, works out regularly, volunteers in the schools, etc. Life is pretty much back to normal. We are so thankful to God for His mercy and her health. For a while we thought there may be no more days like this. 

John Piper: The Pastor as Scholar

Resurgence: Re:Train (Resurgence Training Center) launches & Re:Sound (Resurgence Music) launching soon. Re:Bound (Resurgence Basketball Association, also known as The RBA) and Re:Lative (Resurgence Genealogy Project) still in the works.

John Frame: Questions to Ask a Film

Daniel Block: Gideon's Fleece

Jonathan Dodson: Confessions of a Failing Disciple

SBTS Towers: 3 Questions with Tim Keller

Art of Manliness: The Art of Summer Grilling

Music Monday 6.1.09

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Dude, it's June. You need some music. Amazon has some new $5 album deals. Here are some of the best...

Stream or download the Dark Was the Night concert. If you don't have the album, Dark Was the Night (download, CD), you need it. It's really good.

Manchester Orchestra's album, Mean Everything to Nothing (download, CD), has been burning up my iPod. Still blowing me away, especially as they continue to put out videos for all the tracks.  Here's the just released "I Can Feel a Hot One"...

And I'll leave you with the consistently wonderful Grizzly Bear with new high quality videos up. Here's "Cheerleader." More videos at Stereogum.

Summerbia

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3545514293_25c7662b47_b-199x300 I’m thinking a lot about summer lately. It was one of those wintershere in the Chicago burbs that made me long for summer. Well it’s May now. Summer is knocking and I’m running to the door, eager to embrace my long, lost friend.

As suburban Christians who are looking to love our neighbors summer offers us so many opportunities to connect with them. Summer is the time for cookouts and fairs and going to the park with the kids. The beer gardens are open at the local pub and the farmer’s market is in full swing. People will be taking walks in the neighborhood and going to the pool.

So summer is an ideal time to connect with new folks in your suburb as we enjoy the weather and the culture around us. Here are a few suggestions for your summer from the things my family is doing. I hope you will add your suggestions, stories of stuff you’ve done, and share your plans in the comment section.

Be a Participant

Get involved in the life of your suburb. Find a community calendar on your city’s website and put some stuff on the family calendar. We recently attended a very popular fair in downtown Woodstock. My son and I were in the Little League section of the Memorial Day parade and my daughter was in the middle school band. Molly and the other two kids were enjoying the parade with some local friends from school. Through events like these we’ve met new folks, made new friends, and supported the life of our suburb.

Be a Servant

I’m the dad to four great kids, ages 6-12. I made a commitment to try to be a servant when possible as they get involved in public activities. This works best for me with sports. I’ve coached just about every team they played on. Just last night I sat in on the Bittie Ball (“coach pitch” level) coaches meeting. Daniel (6) is on the Devil Rays this year (Satan’s team). So while I’m already an assistant coach for Little League and soccer, I’m now also the head coach for Bittie Ball. It’s going to be a busy summer, but I get to serve a bunch of great kids and their families by being a coach.  It forces me to learn their names and get to know them, and they want to know me too.

If you are going to serve as a coach or help out at the local school (as Molly does) or help with a summer play or whatever else, you need to do it with excellence. It’s frustrating to have someone in your family in a public activity only to find out the people in charge are incompetent. If you serve, do it well. Truly love your neighbor and consider them as more important than yourself. It not only makes folks love the experience, but it endears them to you.

Serving through various cultural activities also provides us the opportunity to serve our neighbors beyond these events. We often see former team members and/or their parents out in public or at their schools. I will always be “coach” to these kids. One thing we work hard at is trying to have at least one cookout a year for players and their parents. And that leads to another suggestion for your summer in suburbia…

Be Hospitable

For Memorial Day (last weekend) we had a cookout. It was mostly community friends we’ve connected to through local school involvement, but we also invited a church friend or two and a visiting couple from the previous week’s worship service. We had about 40 people there, some I knew well and others I met for the first time. It was a blast. Here are a few things you should do to make your cookout a hit.

- Introduce people. If you are bringing folks together who don’t already know each other, and you should, make sure you introduce them so they all feel comfortable.

- Have plenty of good food. We had too much food because we wanted to be generous. Nothing like a cookout where you feel underfed. And make it good food, please. I don’t want to come to your house if you are going to buy the hot dogs with the highest amount of rat hairs and bone chips. Not all hot dogs and hamburgers are created equal. Get quality stuff. And spice it up. We got burgers at Sam’s and then added a layer of Famous Dave’s burger seasoning. People raved about the burgers, though most of them didn’t know why. You want your neighbors happy.

- Let people bring something if they want to. Sometimes people feel obligated. Sometimes they really enjoy bringing something. Don’t presume on people and don’t ask them to bring something. But if they want to bring something it can be a good thing. It makes them feel like they’re a good neighbor too. For our Memorial Day most everyone insisted. Some brought a dish, or chips and soda. One family brought a ton of Edy’s ice cream they got for free in a contest. It added a super-charge to the cookout that none of us could probably afford otherwise.

- Have plenty to do. We had more games we didn’t use than we used. You are providing opportunities, not a schedule. We had kids playing baseball in the church field, jarts, football, a fire pit as it cooled off in the evening, lots of lawn chairs, sparklers for kids after dark. And think of the little things, too. We fogged the yard before people came to kill most of the mosquitoes and then we had several cans of Off available. We had sunscreen. We had music. We tried to cover all the bases, though we learned a few bases we didn’t cover as well as we will next time.

Make this summer a great one, one where you grow in your relationship with folks around you by participating in the life of your suburb, serving your neighbors rather than waiting for someone else to serve you, and firing up the grill to bring people together.

(originally posted at sub•text)