2009 – Best Album

I’ve decided to refrain from listing my top five albums of the year mainly because I purchase so few new records anymore.  For example, my list last year has changed dramatically because I hadn’t discovered Bon Iver or listened to Shelby Lynn’s Just a Little Lovin until after the new year had begun.  

 I will unabashedly proclaim, however, my favorite album of 2009.  Son  Volt’s American Central Dust is the real thing…a refreshing return to  roots rock that rings true and honest.  

 After ’07’s The Search I had pretty much decided I wouldn’t buy another  Son Volt record.  Their last few records were accomplished  and accessable rock and roll, but they were beginning to sound too  similar and a little stale.  I simply wasn’t thrilled with the  direction the  band was heading.  

 I never saw this one coming.  Who  knew their best  and most direct  album would appear fourteen years after  their groundbreaking ‘95 debut? 

Aristotle and Disney

 My family recently returned from a trip to Disney World (thanks to my generous in-laws).  I think  it was Aristotle who originally quipped the famous maxim: “Generalities are the refuge of weak  minds.”  I found myself continually reminded of this principle as my family enthusiastically  participated in the great  American pilgrimage to Orlando’s Magic Kingdom.  

 Let me explain…

 I found myself tempted and pulled to stand securely on skeptical and cynical ground regarding Disney World.  It was easy to criticize (to myself – not to my children…I’m not that much of a downer father) the pandering to consumerism and the co-opting of imagination.  T-Bone Burnett has a song that compares Walt Disney with Hugh Hefner.  Two American Icons who contribute to the degradation of our culture by creating false images and telling us these images are what we should desire and what we should pay money to consume.  Fleeting experiences that ultimately rob our souls rather than nourish our imaginations.  

But here’s the kicker – I couldn’t stand on that ground.  Disney World was just too fun, creative, and ultimately redemptive.  Yes, redemptive.  Too bad the church doesn’t spend as much time challenging its constituents to reflect on how they contribute to a better future as one ride at Epcot.  As me and Kari were enjoying the last part of a tram ride through the Epcot Iconic “globe” – a ride which traces the development of civilization by tracing the development of communication – we were listening to Judi Dench’s voice challenge us by declaring that the future is ours to do with what we want.  After seeing manikin “robots” of everything from Michelangelo to Egyptians discovering papyrus, Disney firmly pointed the finger at us and asked, “what are you going to do?  How will you take the story further?”  

I turned to Kari and said, “you know, this is really four chapter gospel (i.e. “redemptive”) stuff.”

Her reply: “The four chapter gospel is everywhere here.”  

Generalities are the refuge of weak minds.  As with most things in life, the temptation is to stand firmly on one side or the other…it’s easier that way.  Truthful living, however, requires us to live in the grey.  To wrestle and live with the tension…even at Disney World.     

 

The Unforgettable Fire – U2’s Best…

 Reason to celebrate – the remastered 25th anniversary edition of this – my personal favorite – U2  record has arrived.  This is the record that helped the band turn the corner and paved the way to  the iconic Joshua Tree and infamy.  Working with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, U2 never  sounded as punk and raw again.  

 And even though the album was recorded in and features a cover photo of Slane Castle, this is the  record where they began turning their attention toward America and began forming what I consider to be one of their distinctives through the years – a prophetic voice directed to our country.  This distinctive climaxed during the Zooropa Tour when they unabashedly telephoned George Bush every night from stage, but on this album it’s still subtle and quiet, coming through in songs about Elvis, Martin Luther King, and the 4th of July.  Beautiful.

Why Dallas Willard Sometimes Frustrates Me

“A missional church, in a wording often used today, is actually one that cannot be stopped from increasing, because it grows by contiguity – skin on skin.”

 

Why I Love Dallas Willard

 

 ”Life is primarily devoted to work.  All legitimate work is devoted to the creation of value, of what is good to a lesser or greater degree.  That was God’s plan.  He not only creates; he creates creators – you and me.  One of the saddest things in human life is the desecration of work in a loveless world.  Discipleship to Jesus, properly guided by pastors, enables individuals to find in their work a divine calling and see the hand of God in their efforts to create what is good and to serve others in love.”  

 

 

 

One of my favorite lines from my new favorite TV show, Mad Men:

“We let the creatives be unproductive so they can be productive.”  

Vintage Cardinals

In 1985 I remember feeling somewhat taken aback by the amount of complaining, whining, and basic bellyaching - that erupted from the St. Louis Cardinals (fans and players) after losing the World Series.  As most folks who live along the I-70 corridor remember, the cause of the whining wasn’t a series deciding call or even a game deciding call.  It wasn’t even a call involving home plate.  It was simply a blown call at 1st base…the kind of thing that happens now and again in the course of a baseball game.  I remember the missed call, but I also remember the Cardinals dropping easy foul balls, throwing wild pitches, and blundering plays in that particular inning.  No doubt it was a frustrating inning for the Cardinals, but I was stunned afterwards that Cardinals fans (and players) didn’t seem to remember any of the shoddy fielding…they only remembered – and incessantly whined about – the botched call.  Indeed, history has shown that the Cardinal’s allegiance actually believe they lost a seven game series from one missed call  - at 1st base no less.  I have a friend who since says about the Cardinals, “they never lose…they’re always cheated.”    

A few days ago Matt Holliday let the third out of (what appeared to be) a Cardinals win in the first round of the NL Playoffs bounce off his groin allowing the Los Angeles Dodgers to rally and beat the Cardinals in a three game sweep.  A post game interview with Cardinal’s pitcher Adam Wainwright revealed the following quote:

“It’s not fair that they (the Dodgers fans) can bring white towels to a game which uses a white ball.  Why can’t they wave Dodger’s blue towels?  Something should be done about this.  It’s not fair.”

When I saw this interview I smiled.  Classic Cardinals!

I keep thinking this book will finally set on my shelf for a while, but occasions that call for it keep coming up.  So foundational.  So articulate.  So indespensible.  I’m excited for our house church conversations revolving around Mr. Wright’s book this fall.

The 4 Fundamental Worldview Questions…

…according to Dallas Willard.  Feel free to give them a try…

1. What is Reality?
2. Who is Really Well-Off?
3. Who is Truly Good?
4. How Does One Become Truly Good?

Did Anyone Else See This…

or did I just dream it?  I swear I turned on the Royals game this past weekend (perhaps Saturday night) and my beloved Royals were batting.  The bases were loaded with no outs.  John Buck was up to bat and had a 3-0 count.  Let me reiterate: the bases were loaded and the batter had a three balls/no strikes count.  

The Royals proceeded to make three outs without scoring a run.  Did that happen?  Can that happen?  Surely it was a bad dream…