New CD:William Matthews--Hope's Anthem

Hope’s Anthem is the debut release by singer/songwriter William Matthews. With a combination of styles such as R&B, soul, pop and a bit of bluegrass, Matthews original compositions take the listener through a range of worship styles from joyful and carefree to introspective and contemplative.

Beginning with his participation leading worship at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, MO, Matthews then moved on to Bethel Church in Redding, CA, where he currently lives, writes and continues to lead worship. Additionally, Matthews will be conducting a tour of California churches, featuring songs from his debut album.

The album opens with the unconventional sound of banjo and mandolin in the upbeat I’m Free. This is followed by a range of styles from slow to driving tempo tunes such as Deep Cries Out. Matthews brings a fresh version of Psalm 40 in the upbeat So Good To Me, as well as a remake of Psalm 23 in The Lord Is My Shepherd.

Echoing Bluetree’s God Of This City is the fourth song on the album, We Believe:

You hear us Lord when we lift our voice, here in one accord,

Father we ask, may your kingdom come and your will be done here across this land

Father we stand in your truth,

We believe that our nation will be saved, that our cities will be free,

Every promise that you give God,

We believe that your love will never end and your mercy cover sin.

Every promise that you give, God, we believe.

My pick from the album is This One Thing

My heart and flesh cry out, O living God,

You’re where I wanna be.

This song I sing, this prayer and offering, to you, beautiful King.

And all I want is just your heart. Yes, I am living just to see your glory

You’re where I wanna be, you’re where I wanna be

My heart it beats for this one thin

I’m so in love with you, I’m so in love with you,

My heart is singing this one thing…..

With solid, Biblically based lyrics, Hope’s Anthem is just that – a call to renewed confidence in the power and promise of God’s word and calling in us.

-Ann Ahrens

New CD: Stuart Townend--The Journey

Modern hymn writer Stuart Townend’s new release, The Journey, is a modern folk-style offering of new hymns, modern psalms and introspective tunes. Townend attends and regularly leads worship at Church of Christ the King (CCK) in Brighton, UK.

Departing from the usual electric guitar and drum based tracks of most modern worship bands, Townend pulls out what one might expect on a folk album – slide guitar, mandolin, drums, guitar, fiddle, flutes, whistles and banjo. It is a mixture of bluegrass, Celtic and mountain music, not in the usual mold of worship music. But Townend is convinced that this, too, pleases God. He states, “So I hope that this album might provoke some of us to broaden the musical and thematic horizons of what we do week to week in our local churches. But most of all, I hope it causes us to see the providential grace and love of God in our lives and to respond in worship and obedience to Christ.”

Tracks include the upbeat and dance-like Vagabonds, a new bluegrass take on the hymn It Is Well With My Soul, and a new take on the traditional chant, Kyrie Eleison.

Purposefully departing from the norm of the modern praise and worship style, The Journey by Stuart Townend is just that – a “journey” down a new a fresh path of worship and contemplation.

-Ann Ahrens

New CD: Jake Hamilton--Freedom Calling

Jesus Culture worship artist Jake Hamilton releases his new album, Freedom Calling, this summer. Following on the heels of his debut album, Marked By Heaven, Hamilton continues in the same straight-forward rock style. Seeking to reach a “new generation of worshipers,” Hamilton’s lyrics are honest, thought-provoking and geared to the youth culture. “I long to give the Body of Christ a language for reformation and revival through melodies that will be carried on for generations,” states Hamilton.

Raw, rock style vocals, coupled with driving drums and guitars, set the stage for this message. Beginning with the driving War Drums, Hamilton sets the stage for a musical journey through themes of surrender, intimate worship and that of surrender to God’s purpose – a “leaning” away from one’s own purposes and into the calling and plan of God.

While the entire album is lyrically rich and musically diverse, my pick tune has to be “Looking For One.” Hamilton acknowledges,

Jesus came to save the world, then he let us give it a whirl

And we messed it up, but I’m not givin’ up.

Cause far as I know mercy still remains, judgment only comes if I don’t remain

Faithful. You’ll find me faithful

You’re looking for one who can feel your heart beat

Can feel when you lead, the time and the season,

You’re looking for one who’ll stand in the gap

Never look back, find your heart in their freedom,

You’re looking for one.

Sure to be a hit with those who like their music hard, loud and “in your face,” Jake Hamilton’s Freedom Calling brings the challenge we all need to hear.

-Ann Ahrens

New CD: Aaron Keyes--Dwell

The sophomore release by Aaron Keys entitled Dwell is a collection of worship and devotional songs. Keyes is the worship pastor at Grace Fellowship Church in Snellville, GA where, for the past eight years, he has not only lead in worship but, along with wife Megan, has opened his home to a discipleship program for young worship leaders.

Although the collection contains a variety of styles with unique instrumental tracks, Keyes has made certain that one element is constant among all the songs – that of the Word of God. In an interview with Melissa Riddle Chalos, Keyes states, “It doesn’t seem right that I can go to some of the biggest worship conferences in the world and see some of the biggest worship leaders in the world and no one’s saying anything about the Bible. It makes me nervous because if the Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, if we’re leading without it, we’re leading people into darkness.”

Born out of personal spiritual warfare, the songs on Dwell were written to place the listener in the presence of God, the only place spiritual wars are truly won. Keyes places high priority on putting listeners in a place of worship and surrender so that God can fight the battle and bring authentic victory.

Evoking images of Psalm 91, the title track, Dwell, reminds the listener that we cannot escape from God’s presence, nor can we be blocked from it for God is with us always.

I will dwell in the shelter of the most High God

I will rest in the beauty of your presence.

Your faithfulness is a shield and my great reward

I will not be afraid, I will trust in the Lord.

From the upbeat Lavish, to slow and meditative tracks such as In The Name of God, Aaron Keyes new release Dwell is a call to return to pure, Bible centered worship – a truly enriching experience.

-Ann Ahrens

Sneak Peek Music Video: Sanctus Real's Hammitt

Multiple Grammy-nominated, Dove Award-winning Sanctus Real lead vocalist Matt Hammitt’s first solo album, Every Falling Tear, comes out September 13.

Here's the first video from the new album.

"All of Me" from Ryan Lynch on Vimeo.

News

More thoughts from the news.

(1) Tired. I'm tired of hearing about people talk about Casey Anthony. I was never interested in the proceedings. I didn't follow the OJ saga either. If you know little or nothing of either, God bless you. I know less than most, probably, but more than I would like. I wish that my knowledge of Casey Anthony was zero. Our collective national interest, or, should I say morbid fascination, reminds me for some strange reason of the scripture "have pleasure in them that do." Taken out of context, of course, and not really directly relevant, but oddly interesting nonetheless. I'm not accusing anyone of taking pleasure in watching the brutally painful ordeal that Casey Anthony is undergoing, but why does it have to be so public? And why are people so fascinated by it? This article explores that question in thoughtful detail. I passed by the lunch room one day a few weeks ago, where the TV is always on, and I was completely disgusted that it was on. I watched it for maybe 90 seconds, but it was about 88 seconds too long. I am relieved that the trial is over.

(2) Surprised. The Supreme Court ruled against violent video games for youth. For a while I wasn't sure where I stood on this issue. Then I realized it's a no-brainer. If they can rate movies with an "R" for violence, why isn't there an analogous rating system for violent video games? There should be.

(3) Angry. Outraged. I was listening to NPR one morning last week and caught this segment. While well-reported and informative, there was an audio clip of gunshots, and a man crying out for help in another language. As the narrator described watching the video and seeing the person's life ebb away, I was unable to bear it. I've seen people get shot on film. But film and real life are very different hings. I don't know what the editors were thinking when they allowed that to run. We have a ratings system for film that precludes certain images from being seen by certain people. NPR will often preface reports such as this with a warning (and it did in this case). However, I usually disregard the warnings anyway as I simply turn the dial if I can't tolerate what's being aired. In this instance, I turned the dial, but it was too little too late. I am now stuck with the audio image in my brain.

(4) Intrigued. Witness the increasing number of high profile athletes using some form of elimination diets. David Zabriskie is riding the Tour de France on a nearly vegan diet. Novak Djokovic just became the first gluten-free person to win Wimbledon. I find this all very exciting. Living in a household that avidly promotes gluten-free living (in addition to other nutritional trials to numerous to count) any promotion of a greater awareness of the importance of diet is fabulous news.

(5) Bored. I absolutely hate it when I hear someone say that he or she is bored. It should be illegal to be bored. There is so much to do, so much to read, so much to experience. And yet . . . "I'm bored" is the hallmark cry of youth. But if there's one thing that bores me it's things like the upcoming Roger Clemens trial. The author of the aforelinked article thinks it's a good thing. I think it's a shame. Who cares?

Civilization Brightens

I'm always on the lookout for trends that maybe tell us happier news about our society. This article in USA Today is one of those about where families are living today (hint: parents are moving in with grandparents).

Among other 2009 findings for children under 18:

— 69 percent lived with two parents.

— 4 percent lived with both a mother and father not married to each other.

— 59 percent who didn’t live with a parent lived with a grandparent.

— 7 percent lived with an unmarried parent who was cohabiting.

— 16 percent lived with a stepparent, stepsibling or half

Friday Round Up

Friday Round Up. Or Week in Review. Or basically a handful of interesting bits I caught in the news in the last week or two.

(1) They found James Bulger. Finally. I caught the segment on NPR last week and thought to myself, "Huh. I guess if part of the Pakistanis excuse for not knowing the whereabouts of OBL rested on our inability to find certain criminal elements in our country, someone in the DOJ decided to 'clean house,' as it were." Well done, guys. I heard one segment in which an ignoramus of the highest magnitude called for leniency in the case because he had been so many years on the lam and was presumably now a model citizen. C'mon. The guy was wicked evil. I believe in forgiveness but Whitey's gotta do some time, preferably, the rest of his life.

(2) There's been a lot of sex in the news in recent weeks. Maybe this isn't anything new. But consider: that wicked French guy. Wienergate. And now Bristol Palin comes out with a tell-all in which she intimates she was date-raped. She doesn't quite come right out and say it that way, but if you read the plain account as she tells it, it's certainly the plainest reading of the text. And now, let me see if I can parse out the 'news-worthiness' of any of the foregoing. (A) Dominique Strauss-Kahn: if guilty, needs to do some jail time, definitely news (late-breaking questions of her credibility aside). (B) Anthony Wiener: behaving badly member of congress involved in scandal not even to the point of an extra-marital affair? not really news. In fact, I'm surprised he didn't hold to his guns and stay in office. Although I was glad to hear he was planning on getting some counseling. and (C) Bristol Palin: Who Cares? Why do people continue to pore over a feeding frenzy over nothing substantive. Please don't get me wrong. I am not demeaning her nor do I take lightly her claim, but why is this national news?

(3) Is the incidence of autism in kids today climbing slowly, skyrocketing, or maintaining at a steady pace? Is it just being diagnosed more frequently or is there something wrong with our environment where an enormous quantity of toxins are being introduced with devastating results? I'd like to draw your attention to a recent study from South Korea where it is estimated that 1 in 38 kids are affected with some form of autism. Startling? Unbelievable? While there may be some methodological issues or some exaggerative hype, I am concerned that autism will be the next pandemic. Okay, well pandemic isn't quite the right word because it isn't "infectious," but it does adequately express my alarm.

(4) A recent Harvard study shows that eating potatoes makes you gain weight while eating nuts and yogurt makes you lose weight. If only losing weight could actually be that simple. I first encountered the story in the aforelinked Post article. I actually think this is much better summary.

(5) Jose Antonio Vargas. Perhaps one of the most compelling news stories last week in a week full of news was that a renowned journalist came clean and admitted that for the last many years he has been working in the U.S. illegally. I'm not sure what side of the fence you all are on, but I have to say that I am on Jose's side. I think they should give him a free pass. Good work, guy. And way to bring a critical issue to the forefront of our national discussion. Having said that let me return to point #1. There are crimes and then there are Crimes. Bulger certainly belongs behind bars. But while I am a strong believer in the rule of law, I don't think Vargas deserves to be excoriated. He broke the law. Surely there should be some kind of punishment or restitution. But don't deport him. Let his story be the catalyst for passing some version of the Dream Act.

Week in Review

A couple interesting tidbits in the news this week.

(1) I have lately been quasi-following the question of the nation's debt and looming debt ceiling deadline. I like how this video outlines the issues very plainly. There is, unfortunately, little or no commentary as to the ramifications. These are precarious times for the U.S. economy. I'm more than a little concerned. I wish I had suggestions. I don't.

(2) Which brings us to the question of spending. Does the government spend too much? Undoubtedly. But can other folks pick up the slack? Not likely. I don't think most conservatives fully appreciate how many needs are out there.

(3) I'm sad that I now work too far away (20+ miles) from my home to conveniently bike to work. I really enjoyed my 13.2 mile commute home from downtown Minneapolis before we went to Africa. I know I was happier when I was riding my bike home from work. This article highlights some additional facts and figures surrounding cycling commuters and their relative state of happiness.

(4) Jon Huntsman, or Mormon-in-Chief #2, will vie for the top spot for the Republican Party in 2012. I appreciated this tidbit. I hope you do, too. Huntsman's website has a veiled nonsensical allusion to a biblical passage to which Joshua Green amusingly comments, "political consultants, like reporters, are so ignorant of religion that the allusion probably would not even have occurred to them."

(5) "Life moves pretty fast." This is a bit older piece but it was new to me this week so I present it to you in that vein (there's been a lot of additional commentary, see also this one for a contrarian view. I grew up in the 80s and so this movie was close to my heart as a 16 year old high school student wishing I, too, could be Ferris Bueller. While the author of this article has put a great deal of thought into the film, I am unable to devote that much time to thinking about it. For me, 25 years ago, it was simply a joy. While I have never had much fascination in the way of fancy cars, I'm sure it was the premise of skipping school with my favorite "War Games" movie star and cute girl that held such great appeal for me back then. I don't really know what I'd get out of it now. Can't say's I'll be watching it again, unfortunately. Oh, and the Charlie Sheen bit, prescient.

Website gets hacked. Ugly People Celebrate. Then they Cry.

I wish I had a long cultural commentary for today's link which can be found here: Link!

Basically, there's this dating website... for only "really really goodlooking people." 

I'm serious too. This website would evaluate whether or not you were "beautiful" or "ugly" and then only allow the beautiful applicants membership in the website.

Now, I really don't have a problem with this....niche websites should not be criticized for who they do and do not allow on their website. Of course, good looking people have it harder because preference for looks alone is quite a taboo subject these days (although I would argue the law of preference for beautiful or tall people is still operative throughout our society today, but it's just not spoken).

But the reason the website is considered news is because someone hacked the website and uploaded a virus that accepted 30,000 ugly people as members of the site. The virus itself was one thing. But the website operators went and removed those "ugly" people from their website even though they technically had memberships.

30,000 ugly people thought they were beautiful and lived the beautiful life for an entire weekend after being accepted as members. Only to have their hearts torn out from within after being told they really were "ugly" the whole time and their acceptance was a mistake.

Luckily, all the ugly people were refunded their membership fees and were even set up with a phone number to a crisis hotline as a means to cope with the rejection.

While the intricacies of this story are many, and quite laughable (for instance, what kind of world are we living in where 30,000 people are actually applying for this website?)...my one concern is for those thousands of actually good looking people who were previously accepted into the website?

Think about it....these beautiful people paying their hard earned dollar to be members of such an exclusive website, just so they don't have to deal with looking at the profiles of "ugly people"  when they are trying to find someone to date. And then one day  they log into the website, and find 30,000 ugly people roaming around that dating website! Can you imagine the trauma of the beautiful person that weekend? 

I just hope the site operators had some kind of recompense set up for those who were forced to look at the profile pictures of those mistakenly accepted ugly people.

(The above is sarcasm)

Our Twitter Feed

...is acting up off our blogs, as we're not getting picked up. Joel opines on Kafka and Derrida, thoughts on the (Pentecostal) teens being all right in Word, while Momo has some good stuff on the NBA Finals.

So we're posting, but there's a feed disconnect. Running a test now.

The Germans vs. The Zionists vs. The Capitalists (with the Winner obtaining the rights to claim Kafka as their own)

Franz Kafka, author of Metamorphosis, one of the weirdest, most compelling books I read in high school  is up for grabs.


Sure, he's been dead for nearly 90 years, but Kafka still matters man.


Basically, before Kafka died, he told his friend, Max Brod to burn all his papers upon his death.


Brod, thankfully did not burn said papers. Instead, Brod took papers and moved to Palestine (which became Israel). Out of these papers, many letters and books by Kafka were published posthumously. 


And today, those papers that Kafka requested to be burned but never were burned are still around. 


And we are talking about Millions of dollars worth of papers, some of them have never been read....(one manuscript from the pile of papers went for 2 million back in the 60's).


The paper's currently reside in Israel in a vault under "ownership" by two sisters.


The Battle:


The Two sisters who inherited the papers from Max Brod want to sell the papers outright. (Claiming private ownership, desiring money, capitalism, blah blah blah).


But here's the debate....The Israeli Library  is claiming the papers are rightfully theirs on behalf of all Jewish people, in consideration that Kafka was Jewish.


The German Library  is claiming that the papers should be theirs arguing that Kafka wrote in German and that it can better protect the papers (in consideration that it's archives are carefully maintained and that it already possesses one of Kafka's manuscripts).


But this trial is far more fascinating than I just described it as...


if you have time, read Judith Butler's article on the topic which includes some brilliant analysis....it can be read here: LINK


Here is one of the more fascinating bits Butler picks up:

If Kafka is claimed as a primarily Jewish writer, he comes to belong primarily to the Jewish people, and his writing to the cultural assets of the Jewish people. This claim... becomes all the more (controversial) when we realise that the legal case rests on the presumption that it is the state of Israel that represents the Jewish people.... 


 First, the claim overcomes the distinction between Jews who are Zionist and Jews who are not, for example Jews in the diaspora for whom the homeland is not a place of inevitable return or a final destination...


The implicit understanding is that all Jews and Jewish cultural assets – whatever that might mean – outside Israel eventually and properly belong to Israel, since Israel represents not only all Jews but all significant Jewish cultural production.... 


and now through claiming significant works by those who happen to be  Jews as  Jewish cultural capital that, as such, rightly belongs to the Israeli state.


In summary, when the National Library of Israel claims Kafka's paper on behalf of all the Jewish people, and because Kafka is Jewish, Israel is in a sense saying that as a State, Israel defines Jewishness, and also speaks on behalf of all Jews, even those who don't live in Israel.  AKA even though Kafka Never stepped foot in Palestine (which would become Israel), and was entirely a European citizen, Israel is claiming that He was really one of their own.....even when he didn't know it. 


As a  Jew by ethnicity, I don't like this. I am not a Zionist.

The prayers of Jacques Derrida

Chalk this post up on account of my undying love for philosophy, and thusly, I apologize.

That said, I have recently delved into the philosophy of the "hated" postmodern philosopher, Jacques Derrida (pictured above). Derrida, the "father" of deconstruction, was nothing like the stereotypical caricatures that I had grown accustomed to which said Derrida thought truth was "relative." In fact, before he died, many postmodern philosophers went to great length to derail Derrida's ideas.

What has interested me especially, was Derrida's religion that he was outspoken about before he died. Much of this unique religion is covered in the book The Prayers and Tears of Jacques Derrida's which has sparked my fancy.

The religion of Derrida, is quite paradoxical. He considered himself an atheist, but yet he would pray at least nightly, sometime to the point of tears.

What is so interesting to me is not so much the atheism, nor the fine intricacies that Derrida went about to define his religion as a "Religion without religion" and who prayed to a "God without God."

But rather what has been so moving to me is the sincere humility Derrida went about his religion and prayers...

In short, Derrida realizes first and foremost, that he is human. and thus he is fallen and fallible. And the human tendency is to think that our world revolves around each one of ourselves.

But yet, we know the world doesn't revolve around us, and we are not the center of the universe.

Thus prayer in a way, is a way Derrida seeks to rid himself of self. He wants to love people, and thus in prayer he attempts to repent of himself so that he won't get in the way of love.

Derrida is the one who had me speechless when he asked "what do I love when I love my God?"

And in that one question I felt as if I had entered into a question that was absolutely divine....

When I pray, who am I praying to?

Of course, I am praying to Jesus who died for my sins.

But am I letting Jesus be Jesus in my life?

Or is the Jesus I pray to and confess my loyalty, an idol image where I have constructed Jesus to be the Jesus that appeases my own life and lifestyle?

Is my Jesus just the Jesus that I follow because He makes me secure and tells me that I get to go to heaven when I die?

That is why I love the way Derrida asked the question: He didn't ask : "who do I love when I love my God?" But rather, Derrida asked "What do I love when I love my God?"

Perhaps, in our most fallen nature, we aren't following a who when we follow God, but rather a what in the form of a carved image that satisfies us and our anxieties.

Thus, for Derrida,  prayer is not just a lifting up of God, but it is also just as much a repositioning of one's self in relation to God as to not distort our view of God,

The Bible's Birthday!

The KJV turns 400! In a series of short essays and poems, Harper's magazine offers some "re-imagining, revising, and refuting" of history's bestseller from some of today's significant literary figures, including the incomparable Marilynne Robinson (who states about these days, "The Bible is much thumped and little pondered).

Alas, Harper's only allows you to read their articles if you subscribe online, but it's worth buying at your next book superstore visit!

Are You Offended?

Here's another article for your consideration. Personally, I am not offended by the tag line "Jesus, a Prophet of Islam." Although I can see how a great majority of Christian believers would feel threatened by the claim. I recently met a guy named "Isa." I said "Oh, your name means Jesus." He was a little startled by my assertion, as he was encountering someone who had at least a passing familiarity with his religion and wasn't threatened by the fact that he was a Muslim.

Just because one faith's holy book has a different interpretation of who Jesus was and what Jesus did doesn't mean we can malign them with impunity. I do not accept the validity of the "Jesus story" as presented in the Quran, because there are some pretty direct contradictions to the book I hold to contain absolute truth. But I'm not threatened or offended by a billboard wherein Muslims are expressing their belief.

Inasmuch as Jesus, in his humanity, had to submit himself to the will of God in dying on the cross . . . well, the meaning of the Arabic word transliterated as "Islam" is submission. So, in essence, there is some credence to their claim. On the other hand we cannot accept the Quran on par with the Bible.

I think the best responses to this article are summarized in the following two statements.

1) Regina writes, "I'm not offended. My God is way bigger than an advertisement on a bus."

2) "Joe Stalin," who is obviously an ignorant troll, writes, "islam is a vile and filthy death cult started by the child rapist muhammad."

We can work in peace, promoting dialogue, mutual understanding, and respect. Or we can preach an equally vile and repugnant intolerance and hatred for those who espouse beliefs that do not match our own.

The Radio is in denial. But they also may be onto something.

First and foremost: Yes that is a picture of Herbert Hoover. Yes, that Herbert Hoover, As in 31st president of the United States, Herbert Hoover. The very president who guided us through (or into) the abyss of the dark depression onset by the Wall Street Crash of 1929. And apparently Herbert Hoover kind of did a lot for the radio industry before he was president in one way or another. And therefore, when you Google image search  "radio" you are bound to come across this picture of the Hebert Hoover (of depression fame) listening to a radio... but note that he is not only listening to the radio, he is so posing for the cameraman at the same time. And if you ever wonder how to become president, we see no better proof than here: To be president you must not only be able to do something cool (like play football as in this photo of Gerald Ford), but also pose for the camera while doing something cool (like posing next to a dead elephant inferring that you shot it in this photo of Teddy Roosevelt). Also, being a male seems to help, but that is not relevant. Nor is much of this rant on presidential portraits...

The real point is this article about radio.

Here is what we learn: Radio DJs were ordered by a CBS radio head to start informing the audience more and more the name of a song and the artist of a song.

Apparently, the the past couple decades have been marked by less and less DJ talk (including the identifying of a certain song.) because for some reason radio executives thought people didn't like hearing other people talk. They thought we only wanted music.

They were so wrong.

Because, we really, could care less about the music.

We actually will listen to whatever our contextual peers listen to.

Thus we care more about the brand name behind the music (e.g. who sings the song)  than the song itself. That is, we care more about what the music represents via the artist who sings the song because it identifies with the culture we want to align ourselves to.

Take me, for instance...I like finding music that you haven't ever heard of. Yes, I'm that guy. Thus, when I listen to music, my question is, who sings this song? And if you haven't heard of the artist who sings the song, I will like it. It's that simple.

(I kid, I kid).

Okay, this is all cultural critique that is not in the article about the reentry of song and artist titles within radio.

But, I stand by my assessment because the article doesn't do the best job at explaining the importance of this transition except some consumer speculation....

However, there is one thing that must be considered regarding the article and radio:

 The article vaguely mentions that it was the music studio heads who made the recommendation to the CBS radio boss to put song title and artists over the air with the song itself.... this also translates: "Hey, we need money, and radio is failing and we don't want to acknowledge that radio is failing to the likes of smart phones & iPods because that may mean their jobs, so they have to find small details to change on radio to convince themselves that the problem with the decline of the music industry is not because of the internet but rather because DJs are forgetting to mention song titles on the airwaves.

Also, here is a picture of Richard Nixon bowling:

Bach's Sacred Artistry

Depending on who you talk to, Bach, Beethoven, or Mozart is the greatest classical composer in history. Unlike the other two, Bach spent a significant amount of his life in obscurity, yet signed every piece "To the glory of God alone!"

In the New Yorker, Alex Ross writes an incisive review of Bach's output, evaluated through the recordings of two contemporary conductors. You don't have to love classical music to understand the imprint Bach put on the world--be they Christian or atheist. Ross puts that into perspective:

More than half of the sacred cantatas were written between 1723 and 1726, when Bach was in the early years of his long, and often unrewarding, appointment as the cantor of the Thomaskirche, in Leipzig. For extended stretches of the liturgical year, he produced one cantata a week, and for the most part he refused to take the easy path of reworking older pieces, whether his own or others’. Instead, in what seems a kind of creative rage, he experimented with every aspect of the cantata form, which traditionally served as a musical meditation on the Scriptural readings of the week. There are intimidating fugal choruses, sublimely extended operatic arias, frenzied instrumental interludes, weird chords galore, episodes of almost irreverent dancing merriment. To hear the entire corpus is to be buffeted by the restless energy of Bach’s imagination.

Bach's a perfect example of what any Christian trying to use their talents in the arts for God's glory should aspire to achieve.

Top 20 Literate US Cities

Amazon released an interesting list of the Top 20 Literate Cities in America.

The Top 5 are University cities, but after that it gets interesting, with major metro areas stealing the spots - though not as major as you might think. It's a fresh way to evaluate our country, that's for sure!

Snapshot of our TImes: Apple Trumps Google

Every year the most valuable brands in the world are re-evaluated and ranked. This year, Apple overtakes Google (no surprise there), but you might be surprised how high IBM still is (does anyone even talk about IBM anymore?).

And why has Coca-Cola dropped so much (it used to be the undisputed No. 1), while McDonald's keeps climbing. It's a great list to mull over because it's about how our world is interacting today.

Burning Churches in Egypt

The New York Review of Books offers a fascinating article on why Muslims are burning Coptic churches in Egypt.

The comments below are equally interesting, with some claiming the article tried too hard to achieve balance in a situation where there is no balance--this is outright persecution.