I’ve mentioned Jason Gray here before, so I don’t have to remind you who he is. But apparently he himself needs to be reminded of who he is.
You too? Yeah. Great song…so true. Get his new record here.
Jason is one of many reasons I’m excited to be heading to Nashville for Hutchmoot in a few days.
The bicycle pictured above is from Vashon Island, Washington. Some history can be learned here, but it appears most people don’t know where the bike came from. Some say it was left there by a young man who went off to fight in The Great War, never to return. That’s how I first heard of it and it got me thinking.
A picture’s worth a thousand tears.
When I’m leaving the house I sometimes think, “If I died today, what will they find of mine and what will it mean to them?” It can be a healthy question, or worrisome and destructive. It’s good to evaluate what impact we’re having and whether that impact will carry on in the direction we hoped for after we’re gone.
Whenever I leave, how will I leave things? It is good to consider. Of course, it’s unhelpful to overestimate our importance. God is in heaven and we are on earth. So let us not believe we are what you might call essential equipment for the operation of the world. As Charles De Gaulle said: “The graveyards are full of indispensable men.”
My prayer: Oh, God. What I have built by destroying, destroy. What I have made by distortion, unmake. May the things I have shaped as things ought and shall be shaped, carry on.
What will we pass on when we pass on? Someday, when our prayers for God’s will to be done “on earth as it is heaven” are fully and finally answered, the earth will be filled with the glory of God, as the waters cover the sea. Someday the bikes will be reclaimed and we will go to war no more.
Hear. One of the most beautiful passages in the history of worlds and words.
It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the house of the LORD
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and it shall be lifted up above the hills;
and peoples shall flow to it,
and many nations shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between many peoples,
and shall decide for strong nations far away;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore;
but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,
and no one shall make them afraid,
for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.
For all the peoples walk
each in the name of its god,
but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God
forever and ever.
(Micah 4:1-5 ESV)
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
This all reminds me of the song Chrome, by the poet laureate of abandoned bikes, Eric Peters.
This was originally posted in The Rabbit Room.
Are you a fan of The Peanuts comic strip? Randall Goodgame wrote this gem, as you will see if you watch, after he heard that Peanuts creator Charles Shultz died.
My friend Curt McLey posted this. I saw it with my eyes. I love Randall Goodgame (of Slugs and Bugs fame). Here it is.
The song is from War and Peace. A great album! Get it here.
I’m not a big U2 fan. My wife is, and I have no negative feelings toward them, but I sometimes get the reactive attitude related to them. Everyone worships them and it’s been so trendy for so long and sometimes I react to that. Didn’t root for Michael Jordan. Never saw The Passion Of The Christ, etc. I’m totally inconsistent on that, but there it is. So…
I had a bunch of friends in Nashville who went to see U2 recently and it was kind of like the second coming to many of them. But their enthusiasm was pretty catching. Afterwards, Thomas McKenzie linked to a story many of the concert-goers were referencing on Twitter.
You have probably heard Bono talk about Grace and how it’s better than Karma. (If not, read it here.)
Well, he displayed it here. I love this kind of thing.
He invited a fan onto the stage at the close of the show, a blind guy who wanted to play a song for his wife. Bono sang along and the band joined in. Watch it below. Aside from just being cool, this was a little picture of grace to me. Some one, undeserving really, being welcomed into something much bigger than himself, experiencing an incredible, story of a lifetime, moment. Remind you of anything?
The Great Andy Gullahorn sings “I Haven’t Either.” I can’t relate to this, but I bet some of you can.
Get this song on this record.
HT: Under the Radar
“In a media-saturated pop culture society where ‘stars’ are the royalty to be worshiped or fawned over, I believe the true role of artists is to serve others with their creations. That means to draw people to fullness of life through revelation, longing, breakthroughs, simple beauty, and unpretentious truths. Artists help people see the obvious, the heart of the matter, and from this regained perspective people become more fully human. So much art these days has people focusing on an unattainable fantasy, lusting over what they’ll never have unless they take it by force or by way of money or libido. This is all candy, and candy can’t make a man healthy.”
Josh Garrels
You can get Josh’s new record for zero dollars at Noisetrade. (You can tip.)
HT: Chris Yokel
Are you coming to the show? Details here!
7pm…here (directions). Just outside of Beckley, WV. 5$ (1$ under 12.)
Come on! It’s going to be great. I hope you can make it.
A Winning Combo
A wonderful venue and an amazing singer-songwriter.
Also, I’ll be there passing out highfives.
Hey, southern West Virginia. Just a reminder. And here’s inspiration…
See here for details and to RSVP. Come on.
Who? The Eric Peters
Where? Coffee Beans & Books in Beaver (near Beckley), WV
When? Friday (This Friday) May 13
What Time? 7pm
Hey you, it’s a mere one week and a few days until Eric Peters will be at Coffee Beans & Books in Beaver, WV (just outside of Beckley). Friday, May 13th at 7pm. Be there, or be square like Spongebob Squarepants Sr. and his son.
Please RSVP at the Facebook page. RSVP? Really Say Viva Peters? Yes, that’s what it means.
Here’s a link to a helpful little website put together to give you all the info you need on the concert. It includes…
Who is Eric Peters?
What’s an Eric Peters concert like?
What/Where is Coffee Beans & Books?
Is Eric Peters a Zombie? (The show is on Friday 13th, after all.)
A brochure you can grab and help spread the word (help us!).
…And (not) much, much more. Check it out.
And head over to Coffee Beans & Books (here) to see for yourself a wonderful bookstore with great coffee and a friendly, relaxing, bookish atmosphere. It’s bookish because of the books.
