A Musical Rant, A Running Freak, and Family Videos

(Some of you who are following my blog in Google "Reader" will have a new post from me that I posted by accident because God forbid, I hit "return" at the wrong time. Just so you don't make the same mistake, I'd recommend NOT hitting "return" while you are typing in the "Title" field of your blog. That wasn't even a finished rough draft, yet alone a finished post. In certain posts, I really care about my writing (the blog that follows below isn't really one of those), so having an unfinished blog accidentally posted feels like I'm standing outside in the center of Boston in nothing but pink underwear in the middle of January. So if you can help it, don't read it. But I understand it would be hard not to look at me if I was standing in the middle of Boston in pink underwear. That particular blog was one that I've been putting some thought, time, and a little bit of research into and I'm really not comfortable with it being out there. I planned on having a few other people read it before I posted it. I didn't see myself posting it for several weeks, perhaps months. All that to say, it's not a finished product so withhold your comments until a later time. I've deleted the post, but I don't believe I can delete the update to reader. I'll finish the post and get it up at a later time. Truth be told, I have almost as many unfinished blogs as I have finished blogs posted. Arghhh...)

As I type this entry, I am currently listening to The Morgan Sisters. It's one of those albums (I'll Be With You Always) that I am not normally listening to, but every couple of months I'll listen to it for a few weeks, several times over one sitting. People who went to college with me, or grew up in New England as part of the Church of the Nazarene will remember the Morgan Sisters- Myrna and Gisella. They were twin sisters who's harmony sent chills down my spine. Literally. We asked Myrna and Gisella to sing at our wedding as guests were entering and taking their seats. I was crying long before I walked out onto the podium for the wedding ceremony.
I'm afraid I have to call the songs in the album "old school" now. The newest of the songs was released in 1990, "Another Time and Another Place," by Gary Driscoll. Most of the songs are from the 80's. I feel old. Here's the playlist:

1. Another Time and Another Place
   
2. Holy Ground
   
3. Daystar(Shine Down on Me)
   
4. People Need the Lord
   
5. Friend of a Wounded Heart
   
6. In Heaven's Eyes
   
7. God and God Alone
   
8. Fear Not My Child
   
9. Hiding Place
   
10. Broken and Spilled Out
    
11. When I knelt the Blood Fell
    
12. It is Finished and Jesus is Lord

You know, sometimes I just need to kick it old-school. Some of it's nostalgia; I don't think I'd listen to the same list of songs sung by the original recording artist. It's official- I'm old. Check it out here.

While I'm talking about music...my (our) friend Nick recently asked in his blog what music people were listening to. Given what I just told you above, I don't usually answer that question. For some reason I feel like people judge others "coolness" by the music they listen to. If you like one particular type of music, there is a cool group for you. Well, I don't like one particular type of music. I like lots of music of all different types. I'm a casual listener. I don't get all excited for the next album of such-and-such a group. It's just not me.

Now, I like music. I even believe I know musical talent when I hear it. When I was a child I spent 12 years taking piano lessons. I didn't really learn to read music well, so I played by ear. As a result, I have a pretty good ear for pitch and rhythm and can tell when someone is off key or off beat. (I'm often amazed that Randy and Paula of American Idol use the word "pitchy" so much because most of the time they're wrong- either the person wasn't really pitchy, or they're way off and all three judges love the performance.) I like music, but I don't have a favorite type, and I can't keep up with the latest albums and such. If I like music, I don't stop liking it because it's not new. It takes a long time for a new song to jive with me. And I pretty much can't stand most of the pop music now. I've heard enough of Pink singing about fighting with her ex-(husband or boyfriend) and bragging about being a bratty rock-star. Then there's that other song that's popular right now- I can't believe someone would actually sing the lyrics, "When you see my face, I hope it gives you hell! I hope it gives you hell!" It's no wonder people are shooting each other. My workout playlist is filled with 80's hair-bands with the occasional Beastie Boys track. I don't have much good reason for that other than nostalgia and that there are certain 80's songs that still get my blood pumping, and probably always will. Survivor's Eye of the Tiger for instance.

I also appreciate musical talent. I'm not sure many pop-culture artists really fit that bill for me. Some do. I'm very impressed that a kid like Taylor Swift can keep writing hit after hit song. She's a country artist, but her songs have "crossed over" to the pop charts too. She's very talented. And she's not even 20 yet. She's been dumped by Joe Jonas who, I don't believe, has as much talent overall as she has in her little finger. I believe there are some artists that have talent, but would never make it based on that talent alone. Jessica Simpson and Brittney Spears, for instance. They can sing and gyrate, but let's be honest, they have other assets (pun intended) that have helped their career too. I've been to two Elton John/Billy Joel concerts. That fact alone is probably making some of my readers laugh, (particularly if they host a country radio show!) but at the concert I went to back in October of 2005 Elton John did a 15-minute rendition of Rocket Man that I'll never forget. The man has talent! And for some reason, it's OK to sing Piano Man when you're drunk at the bar, but if you're a man under 40 you better not mention that you enjoy going to his concerts! Tonight on the way in to work I was listening to the soundtrack from a 1990 Spike Lee production called Do It A Capella! How popular was this production? It didn't even make imdb.com. But it's got some good a capella music on it. Rockapella is one of the groups. Remember them? They sang the theme song to Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego. And they did this Folgers commercial too.

I keep this album mainly for their performance of Zombie Jamboree as seen below. As someone who appreciates pitch, I am impressed by how well Rockapella sang.


So anyways, I clearly have musical self-esteem issues.

I also think I may have issues when it comes to over-analyzing the songs we sing in church. It comes with being a thinker. I am always considering the words we sing and if they're theologically appropriate. One of my favorite worship songs is I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me. It's one of the few songs that I feel I really sing well- harmonizing with a tenor part that actually works well with the song. I also appreciate the message of the song. It's about looking forward to heaven and being with Jesus. The irony here is that the video is of people holding pictures of their loved ones that have passed on, implying that they're looking forward to going to heaven to see them again. Neither of those things are in-and-of-themselves bad. But, as we were leading the congregation in this song this past Sunday, I was struck by the fact that the lyrics are, well, American Evangelical-lized. Before I continue let me just say that I understand the point of the song. We look forward to being in heaven with Jesus. I get that and look forward to it myself. There is nothing wrong with that. But the lyrics fall short of what we, as disciples of Christ, believe. Here are the video and lyrics to the song:

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side

I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

[Chorus:]
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

[Chorus]

I can only imagine [x2]

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you

I can only imagine

He's right; we can only imagine what it'll be like. Actually, we probably can't imagine what it'll be like, but we can try. Here's the part that I'm finding challenging though. The moment a person makes a committment to follow Christ the eternal worship begins. Actually, even that isn't really correct. Eternal worship has always existed and always will. That's why it's eternal. When a person makes a committment to Christ, they simply enter into the eternal worship and live a life of worship. For me, "forever worship[ing] You" happens every moment of every day. It's the very definition of holiness. Forever worshipping God is to seek and work to live a life that is pleasing to God. Plain and simple.

I'll still sing this song (there are some I won't), but I hope people understand that forever worshipping God begins long before "going to heaven." (About 25 minutes after having these thoughts as we were singing the song at church, our pastor made this very point from the pulpit. Way before I could blog about it! That's happened before. That's why I like my pastor!)

Some other stuff...

I have this cousin-like person in my life. He's the son of my mother's cousin. So I think that makes us cousins of some sort. At any rate, his name is David Swanson. David is a third year student (known as cows) at West Point Military Academy. I don't know anybody that likes to run as much as David. He's a running freak. He recently decided to run for 24 hours straight in an effort to raise money for the WWP (Wounded Warriors Project) which supports, yep, wounded soldiers. Here's a picture of David finishing the 24 Hour Brigade at 107 miles.

David fell a little short of his goal of completing 130 miles. Wimp. (I can drive that in well under 2 hours!) He did break is personal best of 100 miles though finishing at 107. He also had a goal of raising $10,000. He missed that mark too. The collective effort raised $26,000 and counting. Not so wimpy! So much for hitting a target though! If he overshoots an M-16 like that he'll never do well on the battle field! All kidding aside, it would be awesome if you'd support this important cause. The website is worth a visit even if you can't donate.

I don't post stuff about my family often enough. Certainly not enough about my daughter, Jordan. I got a message from a teacher where Joshua goes attends Kindergarten, Campus Kinderhaus. Jordan will start there in the fall. Here's what the message said,

"I [one of the teachers] was just in the after-school room...Josh gave me a hug, and I said, "I think Jordan should be in my class next year." He said, "yeah, but have you seen her? I'll give you two weeks." haha, I love him!"

That's Josh! Always saying very observant things to surprise people. He's right about Jordan though, she is a handful! Two of the three videos I'm posting here are of Jordan. They were taken in December. The first is of her singing Happy Birthday to her mother and then blowing out the candles. The second is of her reaction to a Christmas present. The third is posted for Merrit who requested a video of Joy opening her gift. There was a third video of Jordan, but Joy filmed it...sideways. This is at LEAST the third time Joy has filmed a video segment with the camera sideways because she wanted a taller frame for the picture. I've made fun of her each time. This time I'm going to tell everybody reading my blog about it and THEN make fun of her. I'll wait until she gets over her severe ear infection and bronchitis that she's fighting right now. I'm a good husband. Anyways.....enjoy!

As you probably noticed, Josh has a bit of difficulty sharing the spotlight!



Again, Joshua quickly needs to move on to HIS presents!



Did I mention Josh enjoy's the spotlight? This blanket is one of those fleece blankets with a big pocket for your feet. (Eat your heart out stupid Snuggie!) This particular blanket has Disney's Brother Bear embroidered on it. They stopped making them a while back. Our more-than-just-good-friend "Auntie" Merrit Andrews hooked us up with one. Brother Bear was the last Disney film Merritt worked on while employed as an animator at Disney. Apparently she still has people in high places! Awwww, geez, thanks Merritt!!!!!