Paradox Porch: July 2009

Stones will burst into song!

When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.

“Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”

But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

what's holding you back?

Here comes the bride

A lot of people have seen this already as it is one of those internet viral things, but I have a question. Do you find this pure unadulterated joy or a clash of the secular and sacred? I once did a wedding on a boat where the bride & groom came in (or up, actually) to the tune "I do, I do, I do" by ABBA. Gives ya an idea about where I lean on the matter. I do enjoy seeing grandma clapping towards the end of the vid though.

Do you ever get that feeling (pt. 2)

I need more color

New CD...amazing!!!

Justin over at Between Two Worlds writes:

One of the more encouraging things to me is the contemporary resurgence of ancient hymns set to new music. Today I received my copy of Sojourn Music's new album, Over the Grave: The Hymns of Isaac Watts, Volume 1.

For the last week or so I've been listening to some of the songs on their Facebook page (see the music player in the left-hand column) and their MySpace page.

Now I know I can be something of an "enthusiast" (Packer once used those words to describe himself, and I think it fits me as well!). But I have to say that I love this album. The lyrics, of course, are theologically sound--God-centered and gospel-centered. The music is creative, diverse, and excellent. Here's one refrain that's been ringing in my ears over the past few days:

No bleeding bird, no bleeding beast
No hyssop branch, no priest
No running brook, no flood, no sea
Can wash away this stain from me.
For only your blood is enough to cover my sin
For only your blood is enough to cover me.

Here are the songs on the album:

Warrior (inspired by “Psalm 21” by Isaac Watts)
Living Faith (adapted from “Hymn 140” by Isaac Watts)
How Long? (Psalm 13) (inspired by “Psalm 13”)
Only Your Blood Is Enough (adapted from “Psalm 51, pt 2”)
Reveal Your Love (inspired by “Psalm 90, pt. 2”)
Over Death (adapted from “Hymn 17”)
Alas And Did My Savior Bleed (adapted from “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed”)
May Your Power Rest On Me (inspired by “Hymn 15”)
Refuge (adapted from “Psalm 31, pt. 1”)
We Are Changed (adapted from “Hymn 95”)
Savior King (adapted from “Hymn 10”)

Michael Cosper, Pastor of Worship and Arts at Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, writes about the album:

In the midst of the Reformation in England, Isaac Watts recognized that people needed to see the gospel in the psalms and hymns of the church, and they needed to sing them in language and metaphors that they understood. In this, he became not only the father of the modern hymn, but the pace-setter for contextualizing the gospel for the people of God.
As musicians, pastors and songwriters, our desire was to explore the hundreds of hymns that Watts wrote during his lifetime, to learn from the incredible range and depth of his lyrics, and to re-envision those songs with modern language and melodies. In particular, we gravitated towards themes that seem unfortunately absent in modern worship — themes about God’s wrath and judgment, His righteousness, and a dramatic vision of the cross and atonement of Christ.

This CD is the first installment of the Isaac Watts Project: songs inspired by and adapted from his hymns. The record was written and performed entirely by musicians from Sojourn Community Church — 35 in all. It is our hope that this project, like Watts’s hymns, will point us beyond the music and lyrics to see the glorious Savior who inspires them.

They just signed a record deal with Bonded Records, who will distribute the album on iTunes, Amazon, in stores, etc. late summer or fall. So you can't download the MP3 anywhere yet, but you can order the CD from Sojourn . If it's not clear yet, I give it my highest recommendation!

I couldn't agree more. This is an amazing CD full of heart, and diversity and depth. Pick one up, you won't regret it.

do you ever get that feeling?

recognize this?

this book

Snap!

If I had a nickel for every time I've heard this type of guy talk at a youth event!
Pretty painful, but in an edifying kind of way.

overheard at the pub

Bill had been getting progressively more bald at a very young age, and it was depressing him quite a bit.

Eventually, he decided to get a wig, and the following evening he came into the pub looking 10 years younger, with a full head of jet black hair. The locals admired his new look, and complimented him on how realistic it looked. Eventually, Joe asked him for a closer look, and, though slightly embarrassed, he slipped the wig off and handed it over.

However, as soon as Joe took the wig, he began to complain about everything:
the weather, his job, the quality of the food, anything and everything you could think of.

Puzzled by this irresistable urge to moan, he handed the wig to Tom to give back to Bill, and suddenly his normal good humour re-asserted itself.

Tom, however, even in the few seconds he had the wig in his hands, had already announced to the pub that his wife was useless: couldn't cook, and was ferociously dirty around the house.

Again, as soon as he had handed the wig back to Bill, the torrent of complaints dried up, and he was his old cheerful self again.

The three friends, completely confused and puzzled, were starting to discuss what on earth had happened, when the barman leant across the counter towards them, and told them not to worry about it.

"Why?" they asked.

"Ah, 'tis perfectly natural, lads!" he said. "Sure doesn't everybody complain when they have Bill's toupee?"