"You can surrender without a prayer,
But never really pray without surrender."
~Neil Peart, "Resist"
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
U23D
"As you entered this life
I pray you depart
With a wrinkled face
And a brand new heart."
~Bono, "Love and Peace or Else"
I love the way that this lyric is written. It is profound and poetic.
I went to see the U23D movie last night and enjoyed it thoroughly. Julie went with me and she thought the music was great, but had a hard time getting used to how unusual Bon
o is in concert. He definitely does not fit the mold of the cool rock lead singer, but is more into the art of music and considers his dress and behavior as all part of the art. I am glad that I own the U2 Chicago DVD and I was already used to his antics. I was also used to the 3D concert movie experience since Julie and I went to see Hannah Montana in 3D a couple weeks ago, but that review may have to wait for another post.
One of the things that I noticed that U2 does live is that they start strong with some fan favorites new and old such as "Vertigo" and "New Years Day" and then they take the audience to a darker side of life that people in the world are experiencing. Much of this is done through the music itself, but also through the incredible effects and light show that are going on behind and around the band. They get to this darker side with songs like "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "Bullet the Blue Sky" and "Love and Peace or Else" with some images reflecting war and con
flict. During this time, U2 promotes the concept of Coexist which is an attempt to promote tolerance and unity among different religious groups. After this darker section, the screens show a young girl with a foreign accent (I couldn't place it directly) reading The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and then Martin Luther King, Jr. appears as U2 goes into "Pride (In the Name of Love). It is very moving. They follow that with "Where the Streets Have No Name" and it is thrilling. The concert footage was from seven shows from various South American locations including Buenos Aires, Argentina and it was very powerful to me to see tens of thousands of Argentinians so enthusiastically singing about a better future.
That is one of the things that I admire about Bono and U2. I have only recently become a fan after their most recent CD and have grown to like their music more and more, but throughout their incredibly successful career, they have always had a very large view of
what they could accomplish through art. Bono consistently sees things beyond himself and looks to try to influence things for the good of the poorest people on earth. He is politcally involved in trying to get the more prosperous nations (particularly the U.S.) to forgive debts to poorer nations who are trapped in a hopeless cycle of trying to pay back loans to countries that don't need it. This will help the people of those countries to improve their standard of living and save thousands of lives by promoting a more healthy living environment. Bono clearly says that one of his missions is to eradicate extreme poverty throughout the world. I know of no other popular artist that has such a huge vision of the world and his potential impact on it.
My only disappointment in the movie concert was that it was far too short and they didn't show them playing some of my favorites including "City of Blinding Lights" and "40". Even so, I highly recommend the 3D experience of U2 live.
I pray you depart
With a wrinkled face
And a brand new heart."
~Bono, "Love and Peace or Else"
I love the way that this lyric is written. It is profound and poetic.
I went to see the U23D movie last night and enjoyed it thoroughly. Julie went with me and she thought the music was great, but had a hard time getting used to how unusual Bon
o is in concert. He definitely does not fit the mold of the cool rock lead singer, but is more into the art of music and considers his dress and behavior as all part of the art. I am glad that I own the U2 Chicago DVD and I was already used to his antics. I was also used to the 3D concert movie experience since Julie and I went to see Hannah Montana in 3D a couple weeks ago, but that review may have to wait for another post.One of the things that I noticed that U2 does live is that they start strong with some fan favorites new and old such as "Vertigo" and "New Years Day" and then they take the audience to a darker side of life that people in the world are experiencing. Much of this is done through the music itself, but also through the incredible effects and light show that are going on behind and around the band. They get to this darker side with songs like "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "Bullet the Blue Sky" and "Love and Peace or Else" with some images reflecting war and con
flict. During this time, U2 promotes the concept of Coexist which is an attempt to promote tolerance and unity among different religious groups. After this darker section, the screens show a young girl with a foreign accent (I couldn't place it directly) reading The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and then Martin Luther King, Jr. appears as U2 goes into "Pride (In the Name of Love). It is very moving. They follow that with "Where the Streets Have No Name" and it is thrilling. The concert footage was from seven shows from various South American locations including Buenos Aires, Argentina and it was very powerful to me to see tens of thousands of Argentinians so enthusiastically singing about a better future.That is one of the things that I admire about Bono and U2. I have only recently become a fan after their most recent CD and have grown to like their music more and more, but throughout their incredibly successful career, they have always had a very large view of
what they could accomplish through art. Bono consistently sees things beyond himself and looks to try to influence things for the good of the poorest people on earth. He is politcally involved in trying to get the more prosperous nations (particularly the U.S.) to forgive debts to poorer nations who are trapped in a hopeless cycle of trying to pay back loans to countries that don't need it. This will help the people of those countries to improve their standard of living and save thousands of lives by promoting a more healthy living environment. Bono clearly says that one of his missions is to eradicate extreme poverty throughout the world. I know of no other popular artist that has such a huge vision of the world and his potential impact on it.My only disappointment in the movie concert was that it was far too short and they didn't show them playing some of my favorites including "City of Blinding Lights" and "40". Even so, I highly recommend the 3D experience of U2 live.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Holy or Happy?
I first heard some quote while I was driving my truck in Mexico about how God is far more interested in making me holy than in making me happy. At the time, I didn't realize that I would be running into this quote over and over. I have no idea who originally said or wrote it, but it has bothered me ever since that truck ride.
If John Piper is right, and I believe he is, we, as Christians, should make it our life's ambition to be happy in God. In fact, this passionate pursuit of Godly joy is the very thing that honors God the most and makes us more and more holy. If I find God to be my ultimate satisfaction and purest delight, I am going to gladly live a life of cheerful obedience for greater measures of joy. I can't get any happier than that! Doesn't the meaning of the word "blessed" in the Bible largely convey happiness? In fact, I have seen it translated specifically as "happy", although I know it also contains a sense of God's approval.
Of course, I realize that we may not all have the same definition of what it means to be "happy". If the quote is referring to a life of ease and security with few troubles (a.k.a. "the American dream"), then yes, God is more interested in making us holy than he is giving us that. A simple glance at the life of Jesus or Paul makes that clear. But what worries me is this idea that we can be truly holy people by following all of God's commands with no regard for our enjoyment of God himself. The problem with that is that it's impossible. Our happiness in commanded all over the Bible. He wants us to serve him in gladness, delight ourselves in him, and rejoice and then rejoice some more. He is our God! In his presence is the fulness of joy and at his right hand are pleasures forevermore!
Let's forget this false distinction between holiness and happiness. They are one in the same and the more of one leads to more of the other.
If John Piper is right, and I believe he is, we, as Christians, should make it our life's ambition to be happy in God. In fact, this passionate pursuit of Godly joy is the very thing that honors God the most and makes us more and more holy. If I find God to be my ultimate satisfaction and purest delight, I am going to gladly live a life of cheerful obedience for greater measures of joy. I can't get any happier than that! Doesn't the meaning of the word "blessed" in the Bible largely convey happiness? In fact, I have seen it translated specifically as "happy", although I know it also contains a sense of God's approval.
Of course, I realize that we may not all have the same definition of what it means to be "happy". If the quote is referring to a life of ease and security with few troubles (a.k.a. "the American dream"), then yes, God is more interested in making us holy than he is giving us that. A simple glance at the life of Jesus or Paul makes that clear. But what worries me is this idea that we can be truly holy people by following all of God's commands with no regard for our enjoyment of God himself. The problem with that is that it's impossible. Our happiness in commanded all over the Bible. He wants us to serve him in gladness, delight ourselves in him, and rejoice and then rejoice some more. He is our God! In his presence is the fulness of joy and at his right hand are pleasures forevermore!
Let's forget this false distinction between holiness and happiness. They are one in the same and the more of one leads to more of the other.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
More Thoughts from a Notebook
I just noticed this today and found it encouraging and convicting, as many good things are. I am quite sure that I was listening to a sermon (probably by Dr. Ortlund) and writing my own thoughts based on what was being taught...
Sin is running to the arms and beds of other lovers. They call out to us, but they do not truly satisfy us. At His right hand are pleasures forevermore! (Psalm 16:11)
Are we thrilled with God? Is that the statement that our lives are making to the universe? Are we living in such a joyful way that people actually ask about the hope that is in us? (I Peter 3:15) Who cares if we have the right answers if people aren't compelled to ask us the questions?
Christianity is about radically changing people so that we don't think, talk, and act like others do. This is what it means to be a new creation! What makes us think we are a new creation if nobody can tell the difference in our lives? This is especially difficult in the U.S. where we are expected to live a very tame version of Christianity where nobody is offended and we don't seem too out of touch with modern American trends (or we can't be relevant). But modern American Christianity certainly doesn't look like the early church! As Christians, our hope is not supposed to be in comfort, entertainment, financial security and early retirement. Our hope is not in the same things that the world hopes in, and that fact radically changes us. Our hope is in a faithful God who keeps all of his astounding promises to us to take care of us, satisfies us most deeply, and fills us with a true love, joy and peace (and all the other fruits of the Spirit) that make us irresistible to others and causes them to ask about the glorious hope that is in us since we are living in the radical ways of love that can only come through faith in Jesus.
May God break us and grant that we find our hope in Him!
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
~The Apostle Paul, Romans 15:13
Sin is running to the arms and beds of other lovers. They call out to us, but they do not truly satisfy us. At His right hand are pleasures forevermore! (Psalm 16:11)
Are we thrilled with God? Is that the statement that our lives are making to the universe? Are we living in such a joyful way that people actually ask about the hope that is in us? (I Peter 3:15) Who cares if we have the right answers if people aren't compelled to ask us the questions?
Christianity is about radically changing people so that we don't think, talk, and act like others do. This is what it means to be a new creation! What makes us think we are a new creation if nobody can tell the difference in our lives? This is especially difficult in the U.S. where we are expected to live a very tame version of Christianity where nobody is offended and we don't seem too out of touch with modern American trends (or we can't be relevant). But modern American Christianity certainly doesn't look like the early church! As Christians, our hope is not supposed to be in comfort, entertainment, financial security and early retirement. Our hope is not in the same things that the world hopes in, and that fact radically changes us. Our hope is in a faithful God who keeps all of his astounding promises to us to take care of us, satisfies us most deeply, and fills us with a true love, joy and peace (and all the other fruits of the Spirit) that make us irresistible to others and causes them to ask about the glorious hope that is in us since we are living in the radical ways of love that can only come through faith in Jesus.
May God break us and grant that we find our hope in Him!
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
~The Apostle Paul, Romans 15:13
Thursday, February 7, 2008
The Profound Dr. Seuss
"But even kings can't rule the sky."
~Dr. Seuss, "Bartholomew and the Oobleck"
No matter how powerful a person may get, there are always things out of his/her control which are fully in God's control. I love the sovereignty of God even found in Dr. Seuss (whether he meant it or not).
~Dr. Seuss, "Bartholomew and the Oobleck"
No matter how powerful a person may get, there are always things out of his/her control which are fully in God's control. I love the sovereignty of God even found in Dr. Seuss (whether he meant it or not).
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Loving Your Enemy
"Loving your enemy does not earn you the reward of heaven. Treasuring the reward of heaven empowers you to love your enemy."
~John Piper, Future Grace
~John Piper, Future Grace
Monday, February 4, 2008
"Bravado"
"If we burn our wings
Flying too close to the sun
If the moment of glory
Is over before it's begun
If the dream is won
Though everything is lost
We will pay the price
But we will not count the cost
When the dust has cleared
Victory denied
A summit too lofty
A river a little too wide
If we keep our pride
Though paradise is lost
We will pay the price
But we will not count the cost
And if the music stops
And there's only the sound of the rain
All the hope and glory
All the sacrifice in vain
But if love remains
Though everything is lost
We will pay the price
But we will not count the cost"
~Neil Peart, "Bravado"
This is one of my favorite songs. The deep understanding of love is profound, especially coming from an atheist. The last verse became a bit more real in his life, I suspect, when his wife and child died 10 months apart from each other. Peart is widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers of all-time and is also the lyricist for the band Rush. I have found his lyrics profound and unusally poetic. I pray for him that He will come to know true Love. I am sure that I will include other portions of his lyrics in other posts as part of a series of quotes.
Flying too close to the sun
If the moment of glory
Is over before it's begun
If the dream is won
Though everything is lost
We will pay the price
But we will not count the cost
When the dust has cleared
Victory denied
A summit too lofty
A river a little too wide
If we keep our pride
Though paradise is lost
We will pay the price
But we will not count the cost
And if the music stops
And there's only the sound of the rain
All the hope and glory
All the sacrifice in vain
But if love remains
Though everything is lost
We will pay the price
But we will not count the cost"
~Neil Peart, "Bravado"
This is one of my favorite songs. The deep understanding of love is profound, especially coming from an atheist. The last verse became a bit more real in his life, I suspect, when his wife and child died 10 months apart from each other. Peart is widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers of all-time and is also the lyricist for the band Rush. I have found his lyrics profound and unusally poetic. I pray for him that He will come to know true Love. I am sure that I will include other portions of his lyrics in other posts as part of a series of quotes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)