Pandora Radio

I hate the radio, its full of terrible commercials and they never play music I like. I have often dreamed of making my own station...

Done.

Moving and Music Monday

Well, this will be my first Music on Monday post in a few weeks, I have been out of town. First I was on my way to T4G and then last Monday I was doing my last candidating visit at Metro East Baptist Church in Wichita, Kansas. Both went very well. As a matter of fact last night MEBC unanimously voted for me to be their Student Pastor.

Bethany and I are excited about the move to Wichita, a city we really like. And the people of MEBC have been nothing but great. It is a place that oozes grace and kindness. To get a feel for the place you can visit the recommended reading page and the Senior Pastor's blog.

So how does this fit in with Music on Monday? I have been listening to a lot of Waterdeep lately who was once based out of Wichita. You can find lots of free and legal bootlegs here and you can preview and download their albums for real cheap on their webpage. There is nothing on the site to stay away from, all of it is good music. Their faith in God is apparent but the lyrics never veer into cliches and sentimentality.

You want really good folk-rock, try Sink or Swim. If you like beautifully polished pop songs check out Everyone's Beautiful. And if you have a soft spot for 10 minute songs with blazing guitars, thundering drums and sweaty vocals, you need one of my favorite albums of all time, Live at the New Earth. Their newest is Heart Attack Time Machine, which is an acoustic album full of coffee-house ambiance and profound lyrics.

I have been listening to Waterdeep for about 11 years now and count them among the best of bands. Every live show was stellar. Every album worth my time. Each lyric poignant.

ESV Study Bible Site

The web site for the ESV Study Bible is now up. While I was at T4G I was able to look at sample copy at the Crossway display table and it looks phenomenal. It will be a long wait till October...

Driscoll on the New ESV

Mark Driscoll waxes passionately and leaks some good info on the forthcoming ESV Study Bible. I cannot contain my slobbering excitement over this new release. I am somewhat of a study bible junkie (here, here and here).

Preaching As Concept Creation, Not Just Contextualization

Here is an excellent article by Piper on the fact that some concepts will be unintelligible for unbelievers and the need to create concepts for their minds so they may believe what was once unbelievable.

22 Poets at 22 Words

You need to be reading some poetry.

10 Ways to Help Kids Love Missions

From the Desring God Blog.

12 Books for Cultural Engagement

Thanks to JT for pointing me to this list.

Music on Monday: Bill Mallonee

I have been listening to Bill Mallonee for over 15 years now. When I bought my first album by the Vigilantes of Love, The Killing Floor back in 1992 I was hooked. No other singer has captured my attention and held it for so long. he is the kind of singer that has become a friend of sorts. His lyrics confuse, frustrate, and anger. But more often than not that take me places I have never been. There are songs I have listened to a thousand a thousand times and still do not tire of and some still give me chills. He has been compared to Dylan, which I suppose is the gold-standard of singer-songwriters. But the comparison rings true. He does not have the typical smooth voice of singer-songwriters. His vocal intenisty gives much of his work a prophetic feel. Also he is like Dylan in the way he uses metaphor upon metaphor...I happen to think he may even do this better than Dylan. Blasphemy, I know. But there I said it and I feel all the better for it.

Bill is one of those guys who writes with his heart on his sleave. If the song likes he is ticked off about his own deficiencies then you can assume he felt is or is his feeling it.

His signature song is certainly Double Cure which had been played live for years and then debuted on the album, V.O.L. He says about this song, "a song about understanding how close God is when He seems the farthest away." The song begins to the tune of "All Hail The Power Of Jesus Name." The phrase "Double Cure" was taken from a verse of the hymn "Rock of Ages." It is a reference to being cleansed from both sin's guilt and power...

Double Cure Run Time: 5:09
Written by Bill Mallonee for Fingerprint Records and CyBrenJoJosh (BMI) ©1996

yeah today i'm sick of all i amtoday is my setback
first i swear i love youthen i stab you in the back
i wanna drink out of that fountainon a hill called double curei
wanna show you my allegiance Lord
yes i wanna be a son of Yours

so tired of all my toys
they never last for long
they keep beaming dreams and wishes
to a big dish on my front lawn
bet you all have got a story
you're just aching to tell
haven't we thrown our coinage
down the wishing well
so go and call your neighbor
proceed with all due haste
go grab your wife and sweet family
see there is no time to waste
we're gonna drink out of that fountainon a hill called double cure
i wanna show you my allegiance Lord
yes i wanna be a son of Yours

ask me why i love Him
He gave riches to this poory
es and i will one day see that face
over yonder shore

Following are a few videos

Who Says What Is Christian Music

For all those lovers of Sufjan Stevens...from the blog Colossians Three Sixteen

Hat Tip: 1517

Free Chesterton Book From Christianaudio.com

The Man Who Was Thursday is the free offering from Christianaudio.com for the month of April and it is a phenomenal read so I am really anxious for a listen. The coupon code is "APR2008."

Hat Tip: JT

April is National Poetry Month

Steve McCoy is helping us celebrate poetry all throughout the month of April.

Here he kicks it off with some thoughts on the fact that far too few people read any poetry or show any appreciation for it.

Here he links to some poetry websites.

Here is a poem by Robert Frost and one by Billy Collins he has posted. Thanks Steve!

I am reading a book of poems by Mary Karr to celebrate.

DWYL Conference Video

Now up over at DG.