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  1. “How Great Thou Art”. . .

    September 28, 2011 by Nate

    So, here’s an old hymn that I’ve always loved. We’ve put a new twist on it though.

    Category Church, Music | Tags: | 1 Comment

  2. Counterculture. . .

    March 21, 2011 by Nate

    Untitled

    “Go into the culture and speak the language of the culture so that you can be a counterculture for the culture.”

    I love this word. It speaks volumes of what followers of Jesus are supposed to be in this world. At my church we use this word practically every week. It’s in our DNA. But the word is often left undefined. What is a counterculture? What does it look like to plow one? Why do I have to be one? Am I plowing it already?

    We sometimes talk about what that might look like in praxis; in fact, when talking about our lifestyles we often refer to that as counterculture. Sometimes we might say something like, “living out the gospel.”

    Before I dive into what that looks like practically, I want to create an image of what that might look like philosophically.

    If you’ve ever studied music, you’ve probably heard of counterpoint. Essentially, counterpoint is the relationship between two independent melodies that together create euphonic harmony. In a contrapuntal line, the once independent melodies become interdependent. One melody is completely distinct from the other melody, but when brought together they don’t clash. In fact, they create a beautiful harmonic line.

    Counterculture works in a similar way. Culture may be moving in a certain direction, and a counterculture moves in a completely different direction, but this counterculture doesn’t attack the culture. It’s not an anticulture. To pull from my opening quote: we need to be “a counterculture for the culture.” In other words, we work for the good of the culture around us.

    For many years modern evangelicals and fundamentalists have been caught up in a “culture war,” firmly believing that the culture was the enemy, and Christianity is responsible for making it right.

    But if you look at the world around you, you’ll find endless possibilities for the gospel to infiltrate and come alongside this culture, creating a distinctly beautiful counterculture.

    So what does this look like in praxis? Well, it’s different for every church. But look around you. You’ll soon discover the heartbeat of the culture you’ve been placed in.

    What about for the individual? Perhaps that’s a little easier to answer. God requires certain things of his followers, but there’s one command he gives that encompasses all other commands.

    Love.

    “Love me. Love your fellow disciples. Love those around you who aren’t disciples. Love those who hate you for being a disciple.”

    And what does that even look like? Perhaps it’s partnering with a local soup kitchen and helping to care for those facing poverty. Perhaps it’s taking that homeless person walking up and down your block everyday out to lunch. Perhaps it’s sitting next to that despondent guy at the bar in your local tavern and listening to his story.

    Perhaps it’s choosing to not ogle the women at your office, to care more about your coworker’s wellbeing than your own, to deflect praise for a “knocked-out-of-the-park” project from yourself to your teammates, to value your community above your individuality.

    And when someone asks, “Why do you live the way you live?” you can say,

    “Because the God I serve stepped out of his comfort zone and said, ‘I love you’.”

    Category Christianity, Church, Music, Spirituality | Tags: ,,,,,, | 1 Comment

  3. Unfailing Love and Majesty. . .

    August 20, 2010 by Nate

    I was listening to some old music when I found this interesting medley performed by my friends David Bancroft and Tara Leahy.

    As I listened I was reminded of the overwhelming power of God’s love.
    “Unfailing Love/Majesty”
    Sorry about the low quality. WordPress doesn’t let me upload files that are larger than 8 MB so I had to scale it down.

    Category Music | Tags: | No Comments

  4. It’s all in the style. . .

    August 7, 2010 by Nate

    I don’t know about you, but there are certain styles of music that really speak to me. There are styles that I like, styles that I don’t like, and styles that disarm me and move me emotionally.

    I like indie rock, electronica, and alternative (not this kind of alternative, this kind of alternative). I don’t like baroque, screamo, or metal. And post-grunge, alternative rock, and opera disarm me and move me emotionally.

    So you can imagine which styles God will use to reach my heart. But one thing I’ve learned is that what works for me may not work for someone else.

    The traditional song “The Solid Rock” never really spoke to me growing up. For some reason I just never felt like I totally connected with the words, and they didn’t resonate with me. But I heard it again a couple years ago sung in alternative rock, and now it’s become one of my favorite songs.

    So what about you? What style speaks to you?

    A?

    or B?

    And which style do you think would resonate with your neighbor?

    Category Music, Personal | Tags: | 1 Comment

  5. Armistice: First impression. . .

    August 7, 2009 by Nate

    Picture 1
    Last Friday I had the opportunity to listen to the new MUTEMATH album Armistice. Okay, so I’m a little partial here, but it’s one of the most amazing albums I’ve ever heard.

    I won’t go into a whole ton of details, but suffice it to say that this is an album you don’t want to miss.

    As Paul Meany was recounting how this latest album came to be, I couldn’t help but be more impressed by the care that went into putting this record together.

    The band wrote 36 new songs while they were on the road touring for their debut album.

    None of those appear on Armistice.

    They scrapped them all and decided to create a completely new, cohesive sound for this new CD.

    I hope you come to love it as much as I do. It releases August 18.
    6535_598470683052_26104005_34983719_8357505_n

    Category Music | Tags: | No Comments

  6. “This is my prayer”. . .

    June 15, 2009 by Nate

    “Desert Song”
    ~Brooke Fraser

    This is my prayer in the desert
    When all that’s within me feels dry
    This is my prayer in my hunger and need
    ‘My God is the God who provides’
    This is my prayer in the fire
    In weakness or trial or pain
    ‘There is a faith proved of more worth than gold
    So refine me, Lord, through the flame’

    I will bring praise
    I will bring praise
    No weapon formed against me shall remain
    I will rejoice
    I will declare
    God is my victory and he is here

    This is my prayer in the battle
    When triumph is still on its way
    ‘I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
    So firm on his promise I’ll stand’

    I will bring praise
    I will bring praise
    No weapon formed against me shall remain
    I will rejoice
    I will declare
    God is my victory and he is here

    All of my life
    In every season
    You are still God
    I have a reason to sing
    I have a reason to worship

    I will bring praise
    I will bring praise
    No weapon formed against me shall remain
    I will rejoice
    I will declare
    God is my victory and he is here

    This is my prayer in the harvest
    When favor and providence flow
    ‘I know I’m filled to be emptied again
    The seed I’ve received I will sow’

    Category Music | Tags: | No Comments

  7. Modern hymn of the week. . .

    February 25, 2009 by Nate

    “Beautiful the Blood” by Steve Fee

    I never knew death could be so sweet
    I never knew surrender could feel so free
    I’ve never seen such meekness in majesty
    That the blood of Jesus was bled for me

    And now I’ll sing freedom for all my days
    It’s only by the power of the cross I’m raised
    The King of Glory rescued me

    How beautiful the blood flow
    How merciful the love shown
    The King of Glory poured out
    Victorious are we now

    I never knew through these nails would love unfold
    I never knew these wounds would heal my soul
    I’ve never seen such beauty and sorrow meet
    The blood of Jesus was bled for me

    And now I’ll sing freedom for all my days
    It’s only by the power of the cross I’m raised
    The King of Glory rescued me

    How beautiful the blood flow
    How merciful the love shown
    The King of Glory poured out
    Victorious are we now

    How beautiful You are
    How merciful You are
    How glorious You are
    Christ our Savior

    Category Music | Tags: ,,,, | No Comments

  8. Modern hymn of the week. . .

    February 4, 2009 by Nate

    “In the Cross Alone I Glory” by Brian Petak

    In the cross alone I glory
    Recognition laying down
    Greatest treasures count as worthless
    Standing next to heaven’s crowns
    Standing next to heaven’s crowns

    In the cross alone I glory
    Ever reaching for the prize
    Pressing on and laying hold of
    That for which my Savior died
    That for which my Savior died

    In the cross alone I glory
    Nothing of my own to give
    Only that which Christ has offered
    For my soul that I may live
    For my soul that I may live

    In the cross alone I glory
    Holding fast the Word of Life
    Toiling not in vain but being
    Poured out as a sacrifice
    Poured out as a sacrifice

    Never will I seek the glory
    That was never meant for me
    Always heavenward reflecting
    All to Jesus to receive
    All to Jesus to receive

    In the cross alone I glory
    Nothing of my own to give
    Only that which Christ has offered
    For my soul that I may live
    For my soul that I may live

    Category Music | Tags: | No Comments

  9. Modern hymn of the week. . .

    January 29, 2009 by Nate

    “Jesus Is Lord” by Stuart Townend & Keith Getty

    “Jesus is Lord!”—the cry that echoes through creation:
    Resplendent pow’r, eternal Word, our rock.
    The Son of God, the King whose glory fills the heavens,
    Yet bids us come to taste this living bread.

    Jesus is Lord—Whose voice sustains the stars and planets,
    Yet in His wisdom laid aside His crown.
    Jesus the Man, who washed our feet, who bore our suffering,
    Became a curse to bring salvation’s plan.

    Jesus is Lord—the tomb is gloriously empty!
    Not even death could crush this King of love!
    The price is paid, the chains are loosed, and we’re forgiven,
    And we can run into the arms of God.

    “Jesus is Lord!”—a shout of joy, a cry of anguish,
    As He returns, and ev’ry knee bows low.
    Then ev’ry eye and ev’ry heart will see His glory,
    The Judge of all will take His children home.

    Category Music | Tags: ,,, | No Comments

  10. Modern hymn of the week. . .

    January 21, 2009 by Nate

    “The Stand” by Joel Houston

    You stood before creation
    Eternity in Your hands
    You spoke the earth into motion
    My soul now to stand

    You stood before my failure
    Carried the cross for my shame
    My sin weighed upon Your shoulders
    My soul now to stand

    So what could I say
    What could I do
    But offer this heart, O God
    Completely to You

    So I’ll walk upon salvation
    Your Spirit alive in me
    This life to declare Your promise
    My soul now to stand

    So what could I say
    What could I do
    But offer this heart, O God
    Completely to You

    So I’ll stand with arms high and heart abandoned
    In awe of the One who gave it all
    I’ll stand, my soul Lord to You surrendered
    All I am is Yours

    Category Music | Tags: ,,,, | 1 Comment

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