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.

Music on Monday: Josh Ritter

It is not often that I stumble upon an artist that captures my attention wholly. Not since I bought 1000 Kisses by Patty Griffin have I enjoyed such a discovery.

Josh Ritter looks like Tom Waits, plays with words like Dylan, writes like Leonard Cohen and tells a story like Springsteen. And his distinctive vocals are all his own. Again I feel like a poor man might if he found a pirate's treasure.

His songs are full of memorable lines worthy of dozens of thoughts...

I got a girl in the war and Paul, her eyes like champagne
They sparkle, bubble over and in the morning all you got is rain.

And that is just one line among so many that reek of thoughtfulness and beg the listener to stop and think with the heart.

One of the things that always worries me when I find a new artist is wondering if he or she is a jerk. Are they a prima donna who will complain about the trials of stardom and disdain the popularity of their music? Well after reading interview after interview and listening to two on npr I was able to relax. He is just a nice guy who considers himself lucky to be doing what he is doing. He is famous for his constant enthusiastic "thank yous" throughout his live shows. And if you watch him in concert you can tell he is thoroughly enjoying playing his music.

Also it is impossible to not like a guy who gives away all the songs that his fans seem to love the most! He also is glad that people are bootlegging his shows. His own website links to downloadable shows in audio and video. It is not just great...it is free...and legal. I now have three bootlegs and so far they all have great sound...did I mention how funny he is also?

Below are YouTube videos to introduce you to Josh Ritter...

"Kathleen"



"Girl in the War" on Letterman



Live Concert Stream of Bootlegged Show in 2007

Another Keller Interview

Compliments of Monergism.

Fake Empire

I just discovered the National and am hypnotized by their sound.

The Prodigal God

We could all use more of their dad.

Favorite New Blog

22 Words

The Gospel of Jim Wallis

Mark Tooley over at Front Page discusses Jim Wallis' New Gospel which is not new at all.

Music on Monday

This is of course, the White Stripes performing "Ball and Biscuit" live at vh1. Their wikipedia page will help you understand a little bit more of what they are doing musically. Yeah, they are a little weird. But at least they are interesting and they can make some amazing and even beautiful music.