Family

Please Release Me

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That’s the title of of an old Engelbert Humperdink hit from the 60’s (my mother was the right age, I got it second hand). I’ve been thinking a lot about that song this week for a couple of reasons.

The first reason comes from small group. We’re studying Acts right now, and this week was Acts 13–14. At the beginning of chapter 13, the Holy Spirits tells the church, while they were fasting and praying, to set apart Barnabas and Saul “for the work to which I have called them.” The church fasted and prayed some more, and then “sent them off,” or so say most translations.

Music

The Best Rock and Roll Album You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of

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Want a great way to start an argument that doesn’t involve politics or religion? Ask a group of music-lovers what they think was the greatest decade in rock and roll. (First, ascertain if they even know what rock and roll is. One of the answers I saw to this online was “The 80’s, because of Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Cyndi Lauper.” Bzzzzt, you’re disqualified. Also, we’re revoking your Spotify playlist privileges.) After the furor dies down, you’ll probably find that everyone settles on the decade they were in high school, because that’s the music they know.

Even then, you won’t find many that answer the 90’s.

Random

The Wait Is Over

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In honor of our pastor’s sermon yesterday, I’m posting an old article I did years ago for an Advent booklet at a former church.

The subject is Luke 2:25-35.

The movie The Ten Command­ments has a great scene, which, amazingly, involved Charlton Heston. In it, an Egyptian guard in the mud fields has stabbed an ancient Israelite for insubordination. As the old man dies, he laments about a prayer that has gone unanswered. When asked which prayer, he says, “That before God closed my eyes in death, I might behold the deliverer.” Cecil B. DeMille had the irony running as thick as the mud, because the old man’s dying words are spoken to Moses, the Once and Future Deliverer.

Random

No, He’s Not

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I’m going to stray a bit from the normal discussion areas around here to talk briefly (hah!) about … sports. I heard something again this week that I’ve heard over and over again for the last twenty years and I just couldn’t take it anymore.

It’s December, so it must be time for the Dallas Cowboys to be going in the tank. Since it’s the Cowboys, we hear and read a lot of things about them, but one of the most common (and confounding) things we hear is that Jerry Jones is a great owner. Most recently, it was voiced this week by Darren “Woody” Woodson, former Cowboys superstar safety (the last time we saw either around here) and current ESPN analyst, and replayed incessantly on the various ESPN outlets.

Music

Perfect Pitch

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I had too much time on my hands this weekend, so I started thinking about “perfect” (within three decimal places) songs. You know the ones — five-stars in your iTunes library, ones that you could listen to a dozen times in a row (and have), songs that you’re pretty sure could not be improved in any conceivable way. They’re … perfect.

These are just the ones I chose to get the conversation started. Since they are all “perfect,” they’re listed in alphabetical order.

Angel (Sarah McLachlan) — there are two reasons to watch City of Angels, the spectacular visuals of the angels on the beach at sunrise, and this song.