the american human condition

though he was a russian novelist Tolstoy could not have put it any better:  ”There are no conditions of life to which a man cannot get accustomed, especially if he sees them accepted by everyone around him.”

 

NP: Sufjan Stevens – O Come, O Come Emmanuel

These are a few of my favorite things….*

Really just a list of MY favorite albums to listen to this year.

#10 – Sun Kil Moon – Admiral Fell Promises

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#9  Mary Gauthier – The Foundling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#8 Ray LaMontagne & the Pariah Dogs – God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#7 Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#6 Tallest Man On Earth – Wild Hunt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#5 Frightened Rabbit – The Winter of Mixed Drinks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#4 The National – High Violet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#3 Shearwater - Golden Archipelago

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#2 Mumford & Sons – Sign No More

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#1 Anais Mitchell – Hadestown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* My Favorite Things – Rogers and Hammerstein

now we’re swallowing the shine of the sun*

Sunday evening we got together with some good friends to mark the one year anniversary of a dear friends death.  I won’t go as far as to say it was a celebratory feast but you couldn’t know David without getting a smile on your face.  He’s been honored with websites, book dedications and many of painful tears, and yet remembering him is important.  He was a pastor and he loved his people well.  Miss you man, have the gloves ready to play catch.

*The National – Runaway

showtime

Looking forward to some concerts this Fall/Winter:

Mumford and Sons

The Weepies

ACL Festival

One I missing but would love to see:

The Tallest Man on Earth

everybody has a dream that they will never own*

when i was a child there was a new adventure everyday.  as i’ve grown up there have been many days that the adventure was forgotten about.  my promise today it to keep looking for the adventure.  i’ve got the most amazing person to share it with…..

Words that make me melt.  Piper, hold my hand in the parking lot.  No! Piper! Hold my hand in the parking lot.  Ok happy, ok.

*Over The Rhine -The Laugh Of Recognition

shine on all the churches they all love less and less*

love this song, it’s a take off of “this little light of mine.”

i spoke this week about how much i abhor “but theology”. you know how it goes…Jesus loves you BUT you got to quit sinning, God loves you BUT you got to give more so we can do his work, “I” love you BUT you’ve got to be willing to see it my way, i’ll let you all come up with your own BUT theology. if jesus had but’s in his theology then his love wasn’t unconditional. maybe the rich young ruler did walk away but bottom line jesus still loved him. i’m just tired of the buts and from this point forward it’s labeled “BUTT Theology”

*Joni Mitchell – Shine

the cell phone zombies babble*

recently like many of you i’ve wanted to disconnect.  which would mean closing twitter, facebook, few of my email accounts, lose a phone number or two.  i’ve stayed connected  to be connected and i’ve longed for simpler times.  if i’m not home when you call you don’t get me.  maybe some things would be redefined this way.  what’s an emergency, what’s important, what’s a deadline….etc.  maybe we would invest that time in the relationships around us, the neighbor’s around us, our friends…especially our families.

*Joni Mitchell – Bad Dreams

we should just surrender let fate and duty shape us*

it’s good friday and all i can think of this morning is the audio sermon from a pentecostal preacher years ago.  here’s a video all cleaned up but you get the gist.

joni’s song is about her relationship with donald freed, well most of the album is about her and donald’s relationship.  i like the lyric on the song “facelift” where she is having this conversation with her mother and she says…“She said, Did you come home to disgrace us!” I said, Why is this joy not allowed? For God’s sake! I’m middle-aged, mama and time moves swift and you know happiness is the best face lift! i’ve borrowed the line “i’m middle age” more then a few times to allow for certain behavior.  but that’s a whole nother song.  there’s days when i just need to surrender and let fate and duty shape me…though i want you to know it’s probably going to piss me off.

*Joni Mitchell – Stay In Touch

send me some pictures then and i’ll paint pyrotechnic*

i’ve loved joni’s painting side.  someday i hope to own an original though i’m not sure that day will happen. she was responsible for many of her album covers, along with others like “so far” by crosby stills nash and young and others.  there’s days where i’ll look through her pictures, pick one for my desktop background, dreaming it’s in a frame  on my wall.  she would say like others that i want a piece of her, maybe not.  there’s days i wish i could paint pyrotechnic, figuratively  speaking.  meaning i wish i could live a little version of the postcard.  some days i long for simpler times, which i know is unreal, sometimes i miss my dad who died some 29 years ago.  is it wrong to think about these things when my life is so blessed?

*Joni Mitchell – Love Puts On A New Face

let me speak, let me spit out my bitterness*

i’m feelin you Job or should I say Joni.  i want to shout it from the mountain tops how i’m so tired of the …. but alas this project was started so i would keep my mouth shut and submit.  i’m sure he is pretty tired of my shit.  i’m not ready to do the whole hebrews 12:9…you know “embrace God’s training so you can live.” i mean i have in many ways but there is lessons that i’ll dolly up with cool accessories to make them more palatable.  hope their not of the “vomit you out of my mouth” kind.  yet, this probably comes at a good time since maundy thursday is upon us.

if your not familiar  with this work give it a listen.  joni uses background vocals to play the part of the antagonists of job’s or joni’s.  the lyrics are some of the best i’ve heard. “oh you tireless watcher, what have I done to you…” begs for a post of it’s own.

*Joni Mitchell – The Sire of Sorrow (Job’s Sad Song)