Interview with Altrogges (Al-tro-gees)

Tim Challies over at his blog Challies.com posted an interview with Mark and Stephen Altrogge. It's a great interview about the genesis and focus of the album.

My favorite part though is if you read the comments at the end you can see some "trash" talk between the Kauflins and the Altrogges. I believe the words "cage match" was used. Now that would be something to see. Hehe. Toodles!

5 years old? really?

Over at Worship Matters and Dr. Al Mohler's blog, both Bob Kauflin and Al Mohler wish a happy 5th birthday to the IPod. At first glance I thought it was a bit strange, but given these two men and the content of their blogs, music and cultural aspects respectively, it seemed to fit. So I read their posts and it got me thinking and that's why I am posting the links to their posts on wishing the IPod happy birthday.

Dr. Mohler's post - Dr. Mohler discusses the effects of IPods on society and in the home as well as future possible hazardous effects.

Bob Kauflin's post - Excellent advice and questions for parents and individuals who mentor teenagers/young adults. Also good thought provoking questions for teens and youg adults. I personally cringed when I read "Rebellious teens used to retreat to their bedrooms to get away from everything. Now they can just slip on their headphones." That was me to a tee in high school and if I had an IPod back then it would have probably fed more into the rebellion.

I must confess I don't own a IPod. I have considered purchasing one, but I don't really have need of one in my current season. I would probably only consider purchasing one if I worked out at a gym or went walking alot or I traveled alot. I think IPods are neat and definitely are a technology wonder. How do you get all those songs in a little box? I've even heard that you can buy things to play your IPod in your car and home. That may encourage me to rethink purchasing an IPod, but for now, I'm content with the old-fashioned CD player. (I felt old just writing that!)

Toodles!

Music Monday

I recently purchased the Valley of Vision CD this past weekend. I know, I know, I must be the last person at Crossway to get it. I have yet to listen to the whole cd because I keep playing track 1, "In the Valley." It's a great song in many ways and a great song to introduce the cd. I promise I will get to the other songs....

One line keeps sticking out to me,

"So let me learn that my losses are my gain
To be broken is to heal
That the valley’s where Your power is revealed"

It makes me think of friends like the Haugherys and the Murphys who are experiencing days and nights that I can't even begin to fathom. Yet, God is sovereign and powerful and able to heal both Alivia and Ian. Please check their blogs to the left for updates. Ian is making unbelievable progress! Lord, please wake Ian up, but only in your plan and time that will bring you the most glory! Lord, please heal Alivia completely so that she won't have to undergo a transplant! Let your power be revealed again through this two individual's lives!

Toodles!

Music Monday

At CCL, we are going through a series on the book of Ecclesiastes. Yesterday's sermon included the passage about a time to be born, a time to die, etc. As Pastor Pete alluded to, it probably reminds you of the song made famous by the Birds in the 1960's. I've heard of the song and know the words, but it is definitely not of my generation but almost 15 years too early. Sorry for all my older friends out there. Just think, some day some young whipper snapper will make some allusion that I'm old by the type of music I listen to. :-)

So today I thought I would look for it and see what it's about. I found an informative link here at Wikipedia. The song was written word for word from the KJV version of the Bible. Given the time period it was recorded in, it became famous as a song for world peace. Apparently, the writer of the song, Pete Seeger, only added one line at the end about it not being too late for world peace. Since then, it has been covered by artists in many different music genres.

Knowing some of this background of the song, it made me appreciate and understand Pete's comments about the poem. He spoke about how the author wrote the poem about all the different seasons in life. Then Pete spoke about this poem is not about what we are supposed to do in life, but that these seasons are governed by God and that he does all things so that men may revere Him (Ecclesiastes 3:14). Pete also spoke that our response to these seasons that God sovereignly places in our lives, is to be patient and to be submissive. Another statement that I wrote in my notes from the message was how Pete described that God does all things for men to revere (or fear) Him, not so that people may learn how to work the system by pushing buttons or pulling strings. I put a star by this statement because I know I don't revere God in ALL things, only in some things. And I think for me, I come to think of God in terms of Provider, Comforter, Teacher, Sovereign, and Father, and all of these things are true, but he only is these things for me to live and work and relate with others, not for me to revere and fear Him as God, Creator and Sovereign over all.

"I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him. " Ecclesiastes 3:14

Perhaps that line could be turned into a song?

Toodles,

Music Monday addition

Over at Na, they just released some playlists based from the Main Sessions and the Neighborhood here. It was created from Eric Simmons own iTunes library.

They're pretty dang sweet!

Toodles,

Music Monday update

Well folks, I've got an update for today's Music Monday.

Sovereign Grace's Music website has a page devoted the new worship project "Valley of Vision" here. Check it out. There's a trailer for it too on the website.

For you CCL fans out there, our very own Doug Plank has a song on the CD as well. It's called "Only Jesus." God has been so kind to Doug to bless his giftings in music and writing God glorifying songs.

Toodles,

Music Monday

Ok, so this probably falls under the category of a forward, but it can also fit here as well.

Perusing the blogosphere, I came across this entry from Bob Kauflin announcing a new SG music project here. I'm excited for it as the inspiration for it comes from the book "Valley of Vision" which is a collection of prayers from the Puritans. I've had the book for a couple of years and have used it on and off as part of my devotionals. At Na, Eric Simmons and co. read from it and suggested attendees to get the book.

Personally, I appreciate the prayers at times when I'm not sure what to say or how to communicate what I'm feeling or experiencing. Other times, the prayers have helped to take the focus off of me and on God. While reading these prayers helps me to focus my thoughts in prayer, I am still a weak creature dependent upon the faithfulness of God who meets my weakness as it says in His word in Romans 8:26, "we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."

One of my favorite prayers in the book is "God Enjoyed." Here's a small excerpt:

"Possess me with thyself,
with a spirit of grace and supplication,
with a prayerful attitude of mind,
with access into warmth of fellowship,
so that in the ordinary concerns of life
my thoughts and desires may rise to thee,
and in habitual devotion I may find a resource that will
soothe my sorrows, sanctify my successes,
and qualify me in all ways for dealings with my fellow men."

Toodles,

Music Monday

I promised a review of Mindy Boyd's performance at the Coffee Co., but things got switched on me this weekend! Oh well. I did listen to a local artist, Amanda Wells, at the Coffee Co. on Friday and had a blast with the other ladies that came out. Thanks Vicki for getting the word out! Mindy is planning on playing at the Coffee Co. on July 8th, so mark you calendars now!

On Saturday, plans got switched again and I ended up seeing Caedmon's Call at Witness 2006 in Q-ville. I must admit I'm not that knowledgeable about Caedmon's Call except for their songs I've heard on the radio, but I did like what I heard at Witness.

Shout outs to everyone I did or didn't see there at Witness: the Guyers, Caleb & Noah Lewis, Kelsi Atticks, Adalie Plain, Ann Gatchell, Alicea from my small group at NA(!), and the best security south of the Buck, Evan & Natalie Kane!

Toodles,

Music Monday

So this week I'll be sharing about another song from the Worship God Live CD from Sovereign Grace ministries. My previous Music Monday post has all the links to find this CD.

Last week at NA (sorry, NA will probably make it's appearance in some form over the next couple of weeks) we sang "His Forever" regularly at the main sessions. The words are below:

"His Forever"

Jesus, friend of sinners
Loved me ’ere I knew Him
Drew me with His cords of love
Tightly bound me to Him
’Round my heart still closely twined
The ties that none can sever
For I am His and He is mine
Forever and forever

Jesus, friend of sinners
A crown of thorns You wore for me
Bruised for my transgressions
Pierced for my iniquities
The wrath of God that I deserved
Was poured out on the Innocent
He took my place, my soul to save
Now I am His forever

Jesus, friend of sinners
I love to tell the story
Redeeming love has been my theme
And will be when in glory
Not death nor life nor anything
Can ever separate me
O love that will not let me go
Yes, I am His forever

"His Forever" by Pat Sczebel © 2004 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP)

Now imagine, over 2,200 young adults singing this song. These truths echoing off of the walls, ceiling and floor of the convention center. I was still in the lobby briefly during one worship session and I could hear everyone singing. I pray that the convention center workers heard the words and passion with which we sung about our Savior and that it touched their souls.

Now imagine, a sinner like me saved alone by grace, singing this song in my car on the way to work. Yeah I would have to turn the volume up to get it to maybe sounding like 100 people were singing, but I have it turned down low enough so I can follow along with the music and it's just me singing these truths, echoing off the interior of my car. Maybe someone sees me and just passes me off as another annoying driving singer.

The point? It doesn't matter whether there 's one person or over 2,200 people singing to God, he is not impressed with the outside but with the inside. Let's join with God and also be concerned with our insides rather than just our outsides and continue to feed our souls with God's Word in the Bible and with rich songs like "His Forever."

Toodles,

P.S. Next week, I hope to be posting about Mindy Boyd's concert this Friday at the Coffee Company in Lancaster at 7 pm. Come out to hear some really good live music by a talented local Christian artist.

Music Mondays

I like music. Alot. Period. Even though I'm not musically gifted, I appreciate the people with these gifts and I also like good music, especially live music. Did I say I like music? Hopefully, posts on Mondays will be about music, hence the title "Music Mondays." Okay, enough introduction, let's get into today's post.

Even though my commute to work is at best 15 minutes with traffic, I can get a song or two in before I head to work or as I'm coming home. Over the past couple of weeks, I've been listening to the Worship God Live CD from Sovereign Grace Ministries in my car's CD player as I drive to and from work. These are quality songs not only in lyrics, but in music as well. I appreciate that there is a wide range of styles of songs on the CD. It shows that there is not just one style of music to worship God with.

From listening to these songs, I've found I'm singing them later in the day and that they have helped to point me to God's grace, mercy and his goodness towards me no matter what the day holds. One song that always catches my ear and one that I'm trying to get the words right without looking at the words (my eyes should be on the road anyway), is God Moves.

God Moves
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm
Deep in His dark and hidden mines
With never-failing skill
He fashions all His bright designs
And works His sovereign will

O fearful saints new courage take
The clouds that you now dread
Are big with mercy and will break
In blessings on your head
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense
But trust Him for His grace
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face

Chorus
So God we trust in You
O God we trust in You
When tears are great
And comforts few
We hope in mercies ever new
We trust in You

God’s purposes will ripen fast
Unfolding every hour
The bud may have a bitter taste
But sweet will be the flower
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain
God is His own interpreter
And He will make it plain

God Moves (words, William Cowper) music plus alternate and additional words by Bob Kauflin © 2005 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

My favorite verse is the last because it reminds me that God is always working even though I may not understand it or see it and I should not dishonor him with unbelief just because I, in my weak, foolish state, don't understand. There will be many things that I don't understand this side of heaven, but that doesn't nor shouldn't diminish God or who he is. And maybe in his timing and will, he may reveal it to me.

Toodles,

P.S. Only 5 days until NA! Woohoo!