Better Than a Hallelujah...

Monday, April 12, 2010 – 10:54 AM

I heard a song on the radio the other day that made me cry, which usually means it's worth sharing. It's called 'Better Than a Hallelujah', recorded by Amy Grant, written by Sarah Hall.

What a beautiful reminder of what God really wants out of us. He was big enough to give us big emotions and big thoughts, and he's wise enough to see the beauty of an honest cry from a place of pain. He became small enough to get down on our level and commune in the pain that sin brings, and he became big enough to transcend pain and death.

I still hurt, and I still have enough doubts to challenge how I know and trust God. Thankfully, he is still patient enough to walk me through my doubts, mature enough to love me through my immaturity, and loving enough to discern the pleadings I make from my points of pain as honest efforts to love him back. 

I am unable to understand why pain exists, but I recognize that sin prejudices me to blame God for my problems. When I take him at his word that he is good, and pour out my pain on him as an offering, I discover that God, along with all his peace and mercy and power and love, never moved. Only when I surrender my pride does he remove my prejudices and lead me from where I strayed, back to where he always was. Perhaps such moments really do please his ears exponentially more than our best efforts to carry a tune on Sundays. 

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Wes Cunningham...

Monday, March 15, 2010 – 11:58 PM

Today is a double-feature. Some of you know about Wes Cunningham, some do not. This post is for both groups. Wes last published an album, Pollyanna, circa 2000. The past few months, however, he has re-engaged with a string of new recordings. You can listen to them at wescunningham.bandcamp.com


I am known for exaggeration. Yet, I exaggerate not in saying that Wes's music is among the most treasured components of my music collection. He is a man ahead of his time, and he is walking proof that much of the best music will not be found on a record label. His story, which I might write at a later time, is a call to get out and support your local artists. Great music is not defined by profit-seeking producers. Get out there and discover music for yourself. 

In any case, Wes is my little example of under-the-radar greatness. I am proud to support him in his underground state. I don't care that he's now pushing 40. I still think he'll become famous, and I hope he does. He will if I am ever in a position to exert such influence. 

Anyway, that's enough to say for now. I hope you take a moment to visit his site, listen to his music, and decide for yourself. 

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Magnanimous Epiphany...

8:35 PM

I shall now use the word 'epiphany'.


Last week, I was struck by an epiphany of magnanimous proportion. (Magnanimous means generous, noble, and/or high-minded).

Why should I pay for something that is free? Herein is perhaps my only monetary peeve greater than paying for a good more than once (lost CDs, tolls on existing roads). 

There is an evil afoot. 

Ignorant consumers like myself have long paid for a good that is free. Forget TINSTAFL - we're past lunch time. I'm talking about legit freedom. Corporations took this free good, repackaged it, and sold it to us at what must be a staggering markup. So what exactly am I talking about?

Books.

That's right, books. In my forementioned ignorance, I had not until this past week considered the magnanimous law of public domain. Even the stingiest of nations (I'm looking at you, Russia) recognizes public domain circa 80 years following an author's death. Thus, the question(s) is posed:

- Is your favorite author dead?
- Did said author 'kick it' pre-1930?
- Do you enjoy non-exempt charitable donations?

If you find yourself drawn in by soothing color tones, matte finishes, and the artistic, pastoral cover images of the Barnes and Noble Classics series, your answer to the above is a resounding yes. 

Better idea - go to fullbooks.com. Find an old book. Read an old book. Enjoy your right to do so freely, given to you by every government on earth. You don't need Barnes & Noble. You don't need a Kindle or that oversized bad idea they call an iPad. 

I myself am on Chapter 5 of War and Peace. It's quite good.

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Facelift...

Sunday, March 14, 2010 – 7:35 PM

Yes, the only reason I am writing this post is to entice you to take a look at the new skin I've put on my blog. After five years, I have decided to chuck the once-hip dot motif. I think this skin is at least a million times better.

Thanks again for reading. Hopefully I'll keep pace with some of the things I want to write.

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Neat Blog...

Friday, March 12, 2010 – 2:42 PM

So this is a first.


I've never before used my blog space to advertise another blog. Here goes.

One of my favorite authors (and people) is Ken Gire. In my college days (the first time around), I had the immense joy of working alongside his son Stephen in Colorado. Today, I discovered that Stephen and his three siblings began a blog to help keep Ken, Judy, and each other up to speed on their lives. The Gire artistic streak is alive and well, taking on unique but similar threads with each sibling.

I have no idea how much reading this blog will mean to others. I fell in love with that family a long time ago, so at the very least, I'm glad to share what has, for me at least, been a very special discovery.

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