Derek Webb - Eye of the Hurricane

Here is another new and really good song from Derek Webb's new album. This one hits home.

Derek Webb - I Was Wrong, I'm Sorry & I Love You

Over the last few years, Derek Webb's music has progressed into a sort of obscure indie sound. Although I am an 'indie' guy, his last few albums never really captured me. But with his new album, I Was Wrong, I'm Sorry & I Love You, it looks like a return to his roots. The new album is set to drop on September 3rd and here is the video (with lyrics) of the first single.

How Tall Daddy?

In a few days, we leave to spend a week with my side of the family in Victor, Idaho. We are all so excited to spend some time together in the West and once again take in the stunning work of God's hand. We cannot wait to see the reaction when our 3 kids experience firsthand the sheer size and beauty of the mountains. 

The other night, our son Judah said to me, "Daddy, how tall are the mountains?" He then asked if they were as tall as our house and I said they were much bigger. He asked if they were as high as the trees in our yard. I told him much higher still. He kept asking for a comparison and I realized there is nothing that can compare to the size of mountains. I told Judah that He would understand the majesty of them in a few days when we arrive. 

Like the mountains, their is nothing that compares to our God. He created the entire universe and everything in between out of nothing with his hands. Only God has the power to make nothing into something. Matt Chandler in his book The Explicit Gospel states it very well:

“You and I are stymied in our own creativity. We can only create as sub-creators, and even then our best work is only sub-creation....God doesn't need raw material. He MAKES material."

Every time that I marvel at God's creation, it increases my faith in Him. I see the evidence all around me of both an intelligent and loving God. I will forever worship and give Him the glory for the many blessings He has put around me. 

Next time you look at all the beauty around you, ask yourself where did it all come from? Was it really a chance happening that brought all this to be? Did LIFE really come out of nothing? Or did LIFE originate from an infinitely loving God who also happened to provide LIFE eternally through Jesus?

 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. - Romans 1: 19-20 (ESV)

 The evidence is all around us.

Rest Easy

Andrew Peterson recently held a music video contest for his song "Rest Easy". This is the winner and it is well-deserved.

All-Inclusive

All-Inclusive. We have heard the term and may have even taken an All-Inclusive vacation. "Leaving your wallet and your worries behind" certainly sounds enticing. Yet, like a lot of things in life, it is only a half-truth. All-Inclusive does not mean that everything is included.











A co-worker of mine recently went on an all-inclusive cruise in the Bahamas. He soon found out that his trip was All-Inclusive with an asterisk. A 20-minute round trip taxi ride to the beach cost him $85. A beach chair rental set him back another $15. I guess if you stay on the boat and only eat and drink what the cruise provides, you might be able to survive without your wallet, and perhaps your worries.

In this life, there is only One thing that is truly All-Inclusive and He has a name, Jesus. Through belief in Jesus' atoning and sin-absolving death and resurrection on the cross, we become followers of Him. Jesus then provides to us an All-Inclusive and irreversible access to Himself. We are made new because He puts His very spirit into our hearts and begins to live His life in and through us. We are adopted as His sons and daughters and are fellow heirs with Christ. With Jesus everything really is included.

Here is one of my favorite sections from Romans 8: 9-17. As believers in Jesus, it should be one of the most uplifting and encouraging things we can read:

 Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

So here is a revised ad:

"All-Inclusive Savior, Jesus. Leave your wandering and worry behind."

Count me in!

Unveiling Music --- Citizens

I'm back, jack!! I will be aiming to post several times a week. Please check back regularly and let me know your thoughts. The PCDC (my new acronym...any guesses at to what it stands for?) has turned off the Cable/Netflix/Hulu for the summer so I should have ample time to share.

You all know me well, so it should come as no surprise that my first post is music related.

Just discovered these guys out of Seattle and I am hooked. Citizens is definitely off the beaten path of what is typical for "Christian" music. To me this is a a good thing and definitely hype-worthy. Not to mention, this makes me want to grow my beard back!

Here are two of Citizen's songs:

 

Video: The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler

Take out one hour of your time and watch this talk by Matt Chandler. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

 Here is the description from http://theresurgence.com:

Inspired by the needs of both the overchurched and the unchurched, and bolstered by the common neglect of the explicit gospel within Christianity, Matt Chandler begins with the specifics of the gospel—outlining what it is and what it is not—and then switches gears to focus on the fullness of the gospel and its massive implications on both personal and cosmic levels.