music update

Well, true to my usual style, I still haven’t bought much new music. I’m skittish, you know. After all, this stuff costs money. I just don’t want to commit to anything. And in the end, I just know that I’ll end up with Vivaldi string concertos, or decide to include a symphony per day in our daily routine. (Every baby should be able to recognize a Beethoven symphony, right?)

In the meantime, I’ve been enjoying the old albums I put on my little nano. It’s been awhile, and it’s like brand new music all over — except not, because I already know all of the words.

Here are some albums that I think are worth pulling out and listening to over and over:

:: Jars of Clary: Redemption Songs

This album has classic hymns, along with a few that were new to me. I love Jars, and totally enjoy their arranging and rearranging. But mostly, I love the lyrics. I think they hit the nail on the head with their title; at the end of listening to these rich truths, my soul is fully aware of its redemption.

:: Enter the Worship Circle: Third Circle

Ryan says of this, “Doesn’t his voice totally annoy you?” So let me say quickly, before you listen to any samples and wonder if I’ve gone insane, I have two ways of listening to music: first, for the excellence and auditory enjoyment; second, for the edification. This album falls into the latter. The songs are almost all just Psalms set to music, and how can you go wrong with scripture? I love to sing along. Simple, timeless, reviving truth.

:: Rich Mullins: The Jesus Record

Okay, so here’s another one that’s not totally my “style,” but I keep coming back to it, anyway. Songs like “Man of No Reputation,” and “Hard to Get” are amazing pictures of Jesus. Actually, the whole album is. I’ve ended up in tears on more than one occasion. [There’s some language in it that you wouldn’t typically associate with Christian music. Nothing terrible, just very… emerging. :)]

*****

And I’ll throw one more recommendation in. Just in case you’re like me, and in spite of having a television, you’d still rather borrow videos from the library and watch them on your 12″ laptop screen, may I suggest Foyle’s War? I love this show. I’m just afraid I’m coming to the end and will have to start re-watching — which just isn’t as much fun with mystery shows.

Oh well. On to Inspector Morse!

phone vs. danica

I left my phone in NY on January 1st. Major bummer. Eventually I got it back, but I spent three phone-less weeks waiting. I’ve always hated (HATED) talking on the phone, but not having one for three weeks was a little lonely.

Anyway, I finally got it back last week, and wouldn’t you know, Jameson gave it a good solid swish in the toilet the next day.

Good grief.

to-do: be a big boy

Someone around here is getting older and wiser by the minute.

No, it isn’t me. (I’m getting older, yes; wiser? …I’m not so sure.)

There must have been a note on the calendar this past Monday — one that I failed to see, but that he took note of. One that read something like this:

— begin to show complete understanding of everything Mama says by running ahead of her to the bathroom, the kitchen, the bedroom — whichever room she just said she’s heading to.

— pull the tupperware out as usual, but instead of just pushing it around, find the proper lids for each container and put them on yourself.

— refuse to eat orange slices that are plopped in front of you on the table; instead, squeal and reach toward the cupboard until your mother realizes you insist on having a plate, like any civilized person.

— run everywhere. Do not stop to find your balance. Just run. Headlong.

— don’t be put off with silly board books and building blocks. Find a way to be involved in every chore your mother does. (If she’s ignoring you, just grab your own apron, and pull a chair up to the counter. She’ll catch on.)

— start pulling your weight. Help with moving laundry from dryer to couch. Also help put piles away. Obey simple commands, like, “Bring this to the kitchen.”

— continue telling jokes. Begin to also include long stories, and always talk with your hands.

— look straight into Mama’s eyes while speaking to her, and show her that you really mean what you say.

— fuss when you hear the phrase, “Time for bed!”

more thoughts on cheerfulness.

Have you read the post I’ve linked to over on the sidebar, On Cheerfulness? Well, please do — it’s well worth reading [and ht: Mom] — and then come right back over here. I have thoughts.

K. Ready?

I loved that post. That idea that cheerfulness is old-fashioned, and simply the sign of someone being fake — how prevalent is that? Having come of age in a Nirvana-steeped generation, I quickly became aware of the fact that real people only expressed “angst” (and how overplayed a word is that?). “Being real” was highly valued. Being able to clearly communicate your frustration with life was the key to being cool. Hating yourself, complaining about every situation, as well as, of course, sticking it to the Man — all hallmarks of the kid who was truly in touch with themselves.

How many times did my attempt at being positive get met with scoffs, rolled eyes, and a “stop being so fake”? Not too many times, I’m sure, before I started to keep such thoughts to myself — and started to think maybe that really was just fake. Unfounded optimism. Delusional idealism. Maybe I was lying to myself, lying to the world, lying even to God. After all, the freedom to be real was the most important proof that you had a genuine relationship with God, right?

But that just never totally sat right with me. And I realized two things.

First, venting about every inconvenience, using course language because that’s how you feel inside, and denouncing everyone as an idiot is not being real; it’s being base. It’s giving into the lowest impulse of human nature.

Second, those lowest impulses are not the only real things that I experience. In fact, none of the things I process from my finite, human perspective are the entire reality. There are two realities constantly occurring. The principle of my outward man decaying while my inner man grows stronger sheds some light on the subject. Throw a little already-not-yet in the mix, and you have a very good argument for why a faith-filled, thankful response to life is Real. Just because I choose to focus my response on the greater Reality of the Kingdom, rather than the base reality of my carnal, still-being-sanctified flesh, doesn’t make me fake.

Uncool, maybe, but not fake.

I am challenged again to take the path of courage, patience, and good conscience, and live in the light of His glorious Kingdom.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. [— philippians 4:8]