Radiohead, Articulated

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.

Just the Way I Am

I’ve gotten really sick lately of hearing people make excuses for their behavior by saying, “it’s just the way I am.”

 

Through a really cool program called Children of Promise, I’ve been mentoring a kid named Jay’wan. Jay’wan is a student at City High and has a dad in prison. He needs a lot of prayer. The stuff he’s dealt with before his 16th birthday is probably more than I’ll have to deal with my entire life. Most days, it’s easy to show him a lot of grace because I can’t even try and understand the situations he’s coming out of.

 

But then there are days when it’s a lot harder to show grace.

 

I got a call from him early Thursday morning, saying his grandma forgot to wake him up for the bus (he was staying at his grandma’s house because of a messy situation with his mom). Frustrated, I got up out of bed, scraped the ice off my car, and drove 15 minutes across town to pick him up. He was in a pretty sour mood when I picked him up.

 

I waited for a “thank you” or apology for waking me up. I never got one. As I dropped him off for school, I made a gentle confrontation.

“You know, I’m not mad at you or anything, but next time you wake someone up and they drive across town and take you to school, it’s the polite thing to do to show that you’re grateful.”

 

He looked at me with disgust. “I was going to but you never gave me the chance.”

 

Seeing as we had sat in silence the entire way to school and we were now in the school parking lot, I doubted it. He got out of the car without saying anything else.

 

I saw him later that week, and brought it up again. I told him that his earlier excuse was bogus. He admitted it was, and tried a different one.

 

“I’m just not a morning person.” He said.

“Neither am I,” I responded, “but I can still be polite.”

“Not me. I’m not a morning person.” He said again.

I did my best to respond. “But you’re still accountable for your actions!”

“How can I be when I’m not a morning person? Ask anyone who knows me … they’ll tell you!”

 

Any rational person who isn’t two years old will see that this is hardly a sound argument.

 

I see the same thing working at the half-way house, which, in many ways, bears more resemblence with a kiddie day care than anything else.

 

“I can’t help that I have bursts of anger and lash out at people.”

“I can’t help that I don’t like to plan ahead.”

“I can’t help that I don’t like working with women.”

 

I hear these sort of complaints all the time. It’s easy to think, “Oh, thank God I’m not like that!”

 

But of course, I am at times.

• I say I’m an introvert when I don’t feel like leaving home.
• I say I have a bad memory when I forget about plans with someone.
• I say I’m a “right-brain” musician and I’m not good at ”left-brain skills” that involve getting my hands dirty.

At the root of it all, of course, is selfishness. While there are some strengths and weaknesses that are unique to me, sometimes I try to use them to justify my actions. I can’t help it, it’s just the way I am.

 

There’s a lot of danger in that sort of thing. The devil can trick us into thinking that we’re “different” or “special,” and the general rule of living your life for the sake of others doesn’t apply to us. He can feed us lies that we’re “not important” enough or that “people don’t like us” and we’re better off just avoiding others. He can tell us that our own habits and preferences are out of our control and that their effect on others isn’t worth examining.

 

The result is always unhappiness. True life and contentment comes with being more concerned with others than with yourself. Being “just the way you are” can be the same as “being a slave to sin.”

 

The application of “dying” to yourself for the sake of others can be as small as changing your own mindless habits (putting the toilet seat down) to changing your interests and preferences, getting out of your personal comfort zone, and spending time with people that are absolutely nothing like you for the sake of the gospel.

 

“I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” - 1 Corinthians 9:22

“Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.” - Romans 14:1

“For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” - 1 Corinthians 10:33

 

Staying Humble

Earlier this week, I wrote on how I had recently finished memorizing the book of James. I was thinking I was in pretty elite spiritual company following the accomplishment.

 

Fortunately, God sent along a Hope House resident to keep me humble.

As I walked into the room of one of the residents here in Hope House, I saw him reading a Bible and taking notes. I asked him what he was reading, and he said the book of Isaiah. I asked him what he was writing down, and he said verses to memorize. As we kept talking, he started seamlessly quoting Bible verses. He would finish quoting a verse in one book, and then say, “that’s sort of like what it says in this other book,” and then he would quote another verse. In fifteen minutes, I think he quoted a verse from nearly every book in the New Testament. It was amazing.

 

The resident said it was a blessing when he went to jail, because it allowed him to spend time in the Scriptures without interruptions and realize how badly he needed to get his life back in order.

 

When I came back by the room two hours later, he was still there, taking notes and pouring over his Bible.

 

“Listen, my dear brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world and to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised to those who love him?” – James 2:5

On the need for diversity in age, race, and gender in the body of Christ

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/)

On Memorization

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. 

My New Favorite Blog

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/

2012 Resolutions

2011 in review.

 

I have been blessed.

 

The End.

  

Here is a review my list of goals for 2011.

• Create more music, and learn to take more pride in it – (Definitely created more than any other year … still learning how to take pride in it)
• Read a meaningful book every month and take notes (I didn’t take notes, but I think I read 10 books this year. I would have made my goal if I hadn’t decided to tackle Augustine’s “Confessions.”)
• Win “HER” over (working on it)
• Help Lance Allgood and James Pusey win “HER” over (they didn’t need my help)
• Play a show in a band other than Android’s Dungeon (The Adoleo event this last fall was pretty sweet)
• Go on a roadtrip with people other than my family (Best trip of my life with Clint, Miranda, and Deanna; seeing Bon Iver, the Omaha Zoo, and Iowa State beat Iowa all in the same weekend)
• Work out at least once a week (Eh … let’s try 2012)
• Either go back to school and dominate it, or not go back to school and get a real job. (God gave me two real jobs)
• Be more flexible, and more consistent (A work in progress, but I’ve seen a lot of growth looking back on the past year)
• Love people
• Love God

So, with that, here are my new resolutions for 2012! Hold me accountable, wordpress.com!

• Read a book every month!
• Write the best music I can!
• Work out at least once a week!
• Complain less!
• Be more generous!
• Ask for help more often and take it (quit doing things on my own)!
• Learn new things and become more “handy!”
• Balance my time effectively, and not second-guess so myself so much!
• Get better at “resting” and observing the Sabbath!
• Memorize a book of the Bible!

Best Music of 2011

Best Albums of 2011

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”

 

 2011 Supergroup

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

Biggest Disappointments

#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.

Christmas in Iowa City

This was an honor to be a part of.

Make Me Whole

Here’s what I’ve been up to lately:

 

Adoleo recorded 12 songs for an upcoming release last Friday night. We invited a “choir” of singers to accompany us, some “caring adults” to make us snacks, the world’s best “tech guy” (John Debold) to assist with recording, and a church elder to check on his fantasy football team.

The idea for the recording was simple: capture the sound of a living room engaged in worship. When finished with post-production work (whatever that means), each song will feature one acoustic guitar track, one lead vocal track, and a chorus of voices. Of the 12 songs, 11 of them are new. Some of them were written for our recent album, but we just weren’t able to produce them in a fitting way for a full band.

The song captured in the video by Mark Arant’s iphone is one I wrote called “Make Me Whole.” It is a song I had recently reworked from a different song I had written about four years ago. (20 points to anyone who can recognize it) Ally really wanted to sing it, and I think she does an incredible job with it.

Lyrically, I’m really proud of this song, and it might be my favorite one of the whole project. It was inspired by Acts 9:32-35 (KJV).

“And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda. And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.”

The first verse of the song was inspired by reading through the weighty “Confessions” by Saint Augustine. I felt like I didn’t understand 90% of that book, but what I did get out of it was pretty powerful. Augustine begins his book by acknowledging his nothingness before his Creator. He writes on how he is but a vanishing breath, but one that is known intimately and deeply by His creator. He puts himself in as humble of a position as he can, and “confesses” it back to God. Through his confession that there is nothing ultimately good in him without the help of God, he is able to experience the complete joy of God’s grace and love.

The first verse of the song attempts to capture that idea. Confession is not just a once in a lifetime practice, but a discipline that should be a constant part of a Christian’s walk. I wanted lyrics that would apply to both the first-time believer as well as the seasoned disciple who is still striving towards perfection in Christ.

You see through me

From before I was born you have known me

You have known me (Psalm 139)

And you’ve seen how I have wandered

I confess Lord, and I turn back to you

The chorus of the song goes back to the story in Acts. We don’t confess without reason; we confess because we have faith that God can heal us, as it says in Scripture that “He opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” We confess with every intention of leaving behind the sin and all of the brokenness that it entails. I like the KJV version that uses the word “whole” to describe the healing that takes place. It captures the implications of both body and soul. As we confess and turn away from our sins of the flesh, our souls are able to encounter God more intimately and fully.

For You can make me whole again

Make me wholly Yours

Take my sin and brokenness

Make me whole again

The second verse focuses on what happens after the healing. It says “ALL in Lyda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.” Aeneas’ faith wasn’t a “personal decision that worked for him,” it was a real healing that he couldn’t hide! As “God works all things together for the good of those who love him,” the very weakness of Aeneas was able to be used to bring God the most power and glory.

To preach for a second here, I don’t think most Christians feel like they can boast of what God has healed them from. Augustine “confessed” not only to God, but also to his fellow man, that they might see the work of God in his life. If someone has accepted Jesus Christ and grace, there is no shame in their former lives, as long as we have truly turned from it. Yet, we often keep our stories to ourselves. If we truly told people about what God has done for us, unashamedly and boastfully (in Christ), I think there would be a lot more people turning to the Lord. As it is, we think our own stories insignificant, our own lives purposeless, and our past struggles with sin as permanant restraints. Are we really free, then, if our sin is always with us? Are we truly whole?

I’m not saying everyone has to get up in church and tell everyone else the worst thing they’ve ever done. What I am saying, though, is that I’ve seen in my life how God has used even the worst of my sins for his glory when I’m willing to share them with others in a meaninful way. “What’s that you say? You feel trapped in your sin? So was I … but I know the way to healing.” The greatest evidence I can present for the existence of God is his work in my own life.

You speak to me

To my listening ear there is healing

There is healing

So let me rise, as with new limbs

I’ll serve God as a witness to you

The bridge of the song goes back to the initial heart of confession. It’s as simple and straight to the point as I could make it. No wordy language; no pretentious words open to interpretation; it’s confession straight from the gut between the sinner and a righteous God. “I’m sorry. I was foolish. I chased after foolish things. You’ve given me everything I need. Take me back again.”

Once again, the application is the same for both the newly repentant murderer and the lifelong Christian who just entertained some envious thoughts throughout the week.

I’m sorry Lord for wandering

With jealous thoughts unsatisfied

When I have all the things I really need

For selfish I have come to this unhappiness

I want to be made whole.