http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2011/03/27/see-what-radiohead-sees/
Probably one of the best articles I’ve ever read on my favorite band.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2011/03/27/see-what-radiohead-sees/
Probably one of the best articles I’ve ever read on my favorite band.
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Five college students guys hanging out together sharing their collective wisdom is not the “manifestation of God’s varied graces” God promised in the church (Eph, 3:10; 1 Peter 4:10); it’s Lord of the Flies.
(Taken from “9 Ways to Reach College Students” by J.D. Greear and Rupert Leary http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/18/9-keys-to-reaching-college-students/)
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This past Tuesday, I was, quite literally, the poster boy for Salt Company in Iowa City.
There were actually 4 editions of these made … all using photoshopped qualities of the same picture.
As if that wasn’t enough, Mark Arant decided to use me as an example for the application of his sermon message. When we were remodeling our new church offices over Christmas break, some index cards that I use for memorization somehow fell out of my pocket. Mark found them while cleaning up trash, and was going to throw them away until he realized what they were. He then did what Mark does best: he got out his iphone, took a picture of them, and used the picture as a sermon illustration (much to my surprise).
I felt the need to write a post further explaining the index cards.
Last spring, I decided I was going to memorize 2 Corinthians 4, as nearly every word of it seemed to directly relate to what I was going through in life. I had memorized several verses before, but never an entire chapter before. I started at the top, and worked my way through it, adding just a few verses to what I already knew each week. I would write the new verses on index cards and keep them in my pocket. I would try to recite the entire chapter (or what I knew of it) everyday. When I would get stuck, I would look at my index cards. I would recite it while driving around, while waiting in lines, while eating breakfast … whenever I found myself doing some mundane activity.
The next thing I knew, I had the chapter completely memorized. The entire thing. I could say the whole thing without even much of a pause or a break.
The even crazier thing was that even though I thought I had a good grasp of the meaning of the chapter before memorizing it, over the course of those few months, I realized I was barely scratching the surface of how deep and powerful that portion of Scripture really was. When I read it, I thought of the few circumstances I was currently in and how it might have related to that. When you have a portion of Scripture in your head constantly for a few months, you see that there are many more circumstances in life that the verses applied to. While the application on Monday might have been persevering through an early morning without much sleep, the application on Friday would have been persevering through a time of temptation from sin. The same verse becomes not just a one-time medicine for sickness, but like a living, breathing healing agent inside me; constantly opening my eyes to deeper spiritual truths.
Of any spiritual discipline I’ve ever practiced, none of them have had anywhere near the impact on my life as committing Scripture to memory.
Now, anyone who has ever been to a James & James show or watched me lead worship without a confidence lyric screen knows that I have no special memory powers. I’ve forgotten the words to my own songs too many times to count. Yet, this month, I finished memorizing the book of James.
Yes, the entire book.
It is possible. Scripture memorization is not some unattainable trick only reserved for the spiritual elite or those with IQ’s over 140. I’m writing this post not to give you more reasons for why I should be the “poster boy” (pardon the terrible pun); but I’m writing it to encourage YOU, whoever you are, that taking the living, breathing Word of God into your heart and mind is one of the most valuable investments you could possibly ever make.
(“The Word was with God, and the Word WAS God”)
To use an example from James 5,
“Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”
Use whatever method you want. Use index cards, or post-it notes, or just bury your nose in your Bible throughout the day. I hope the method I shared with you for memorizing Scripture helps and encourages you.
And even I can’t remember all the lyrics to my own songs, I can still recite to you 2 Corinthians 4 today.
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I’ve been reading something called “The Gospel Coalition Blog” for a few months now, and I thought I would share it with you. Some of the posts are a little lengthy and can use a lot of Bible-college level language, but the content of it is always full of truth and wisdom.
This particular post is a story about the power of prayer. It touched me because lately I’ve been feeling as though my prayers have gone unanswered, even though I’m doing my best to pray along with God’s will. Then, the last few weeks, God seems to have unleashed a full new storehouse of blessings and answered prayers.
It’s a good reminder that miracles do happen. God does answer prayers. Jesus was not just a teacher, giving us a revised moral code to live by, but God himself, and he desperately wants us to give him all our requests and prayers so that he can answer those he loves.
“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:13-14)
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/13/delivered-from-death-in-the-valley-of-the-shadow/
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I realize 7 is a pretty arbitrary number for a list, but in my opinion #8 would be sort of like the drop from a Mac to a PC. There were plenty of other new albums that I listened to and enjoyed this year, but most were pretty forgettable or only had a few good songs. I feel like these 7 albums really distanced themselves from the rest.
And … if you happen to like hip-hop, gospel, country, alternative country, raggae, or bands on any hipster blog’s “Best of 2011″ lists that sound like they were recorded in a basement, I’m sorry for the notable absence of any titles from my list. I’m just sharing a list of stuff that I enjoyed this year.
#1 : Gungor – “Ghosts Upon the Earth”
Not just my favorite album of the year, but my new favorite album of all time. Lyically, musically, production; this album has no weaknesses.
Favorite song: “Let There Be”
#2 : The Envy Corps – “It Culls You”
Apart from raving reviews from a few local journalists (and everyone who’s heard it), it’s really sad that this album didn’t get the attention it deserved.
Favorite song: “Make It Stop”
#3 : Bon Iver – “Bon Iver”
Great album. Would be even better if was as dynamic and powerful as the live show.
Favorite song: “Holocene” (pretty sweet music video)
#4 : Florence and the Machine – “Ceremonials”
I was a little late discovering this band. My loss. This will probably be one of the biggest inspirations for the next Adoleo album.
Favorite song: “No Light, No Light”
#5 : Coldplay – “Mylo Xyloto”
I’m gonna lose all hipster credibility with this one … but I love how Coldplay isn’t going to let blogs or critics tell them who they are or what they should sound like. Sure, it’s over-produced, but it’s over-produced by some of the best producers and musicians in the business. There is some beauty in professionalism.
Favorite song: “Paradise” (the music video is … worth watching)
#6 : Brian and Katie Torwalt – “Here on Earth”
Leaps and bounds above every other corporate worship album I heard this year. Tough to pick just one song off it. I highly recommend it.
Favorite song: “Holy Spirit”
#7 : Adele – “21″
Deserved every bit of radio over-play it received.
Favorite song: “Rolling in the Deep”
Drums – S. Carey (Bon Iver)
Bass – Luke Pettipoole (The Envy Corps)
Acoustic Guitar – Michael Gungor
Electric Guitar – Brandon Darner (The Envy Corps)
Synth/Keys – Justin Vernon (Bon Iver)
Singer – Adele
Songwriter – Michael/Lisa Gungor
Producer – Michael Gungor
#1 : Radiohead – “King of Limbs”
In my opinion, these guys have gotten better every album. Until this one. Not a total disaster, as the last four songs are decent, but definitely a disappointment.
#2 : Death Cab for Cutie – “Codes and Keys”
Ben Gibbard used to say meaningful things in poetic ways. Now he says pointless things in riddles.
#3 : Phil Wickham – “Response”
Phil gives into the temtation to write contemporary music for the radio. Sad. Even sadder is that I don’t think he’s going to get any radio play anyway.
#4 : Leeland – “The Great Awakening”
I really need to give up hope that they’ll recapture the magic of their first album.
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This was an honor to be a part of.
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