How is it between us?
Posted by: dana on: July 28, 2008
- In: Religion| faith
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Artist: Sara Groves
Song: How it is between us
Album: Conversations
Woke up on the wrong side of the bed,
the wrong side of the room,
the wrong side of the world.
Can’t put my finger on the mood.
It’s not melancholy, anger or the blues.
I love my husband, my house, my job.
Couldn’t be any better,
and really what else is there?
Then I realize I’m forgetting God,
and that’s the root of all my misery.
Lord, first of all, how is it between you and me?
. Chorus: How is it between us?
How is it between us?
When did I talk to you last,
and what has happened since?
How is it between us? How is it between us?
When did I talk to you last, and what has happened?
. When I wake up I am on my way,
reinventing the wheel and saving the day.
I have learned this lesson a thousand times,
I am the branch, and you are the vine.
Apart from you we are mice and men,
with our fancy dreams of grandeur and no way to get there.
Oh I can think about you now and then,
or I can make a mark on eternity.
Lord first of all, how is it, between you and me?
. Chorus .
So let the wicked prosper, let the oceans roar,
let the mountains crumble, and fall into the sea.
There’s something more important weighing on my mind.
Lord first of all, how is it between you and me?
Art and the artist
Posted by: dana on: July 14, 2008
- In: Religion| free will
- 4 Comments
Artistic talents to me are one of the most sure signs that there is a God. When I start to dabble in the idea that maybe it is all really just science and coincidence, I think about the ability to create music and paintings and poetry and novels and movies.
And I wonder – if we are here merely because evolution has deemed us a worthy species to continue inhabiting this planet, what is the purpose of these abilities? Other species will sing or dance to attract a mate. And no doubt the human species does this too (there has to be some explanation for my attraction to rock stars).
But then why do we sing when we’re alone in our car. And children begin to dance within the first three seconds of a familiar Doodle-Bops song. We create pottery. And beautiful architecture. We take pleasure in decorating our homes in ways that are pleasing and comfortable to us. We craft meals designed not to nourish us but to excite our taste buds.
What use are these skills in the grand goal of species survival?
The only satisfactory answer I have found is that we really are the reflection of a Creator, the ultimate Artist. And one of the greatest gifts we have been given is the ability, on a much smaller scale, to create as He creates. Just as He painted the sky, we paint canvas. As He builds the mountains, we build skyscrapers. As winds whistle and waves crash, so do our flutes and cymbals.
So find what it is you can do that doesn’t make any sense. A talent that isn’t simply a trade necessary to survive. It could be as complicated as composing a sonata or as simple as painting your nails. Hunt for and polish beautiful stones, bake a cake, pound on drums, build a birdhouse, sing in the shower — whether beautifully or horribly.
Just create something that makes you satisfied in a way that God must be satisfied when He looks at the rainforest or the dessert or the stars … or us.
A sadder morning drive
Posted by: dana on: May 13, 2008
- In: Bible| Pop culture| Religion| faith
- 1 Comment
I recently wrote about a radio program I tune into on my morning drive when I need a little pick-me-up or need to be calmed down. It’s called Proclaim with pastor Michael Easley. It’s essentially re-broadcasts of sermons he has given, broken into 15-minute chunks.
He isn’t over-the-top and doesn’t try to be political or force a personal agenda into the Bible. He just examines the Bible and talks about what it says.
It’s especially nice on mornings when I’m feeling a lot of road rage. It’s harder to shout obscentities at inconsiderate drivers when you’re learning about God at the same time (harder … but not impossible. Yeah it’s bad sometimes).
Anyway, I was sad when I discovered this week that they have changed his time slot. Instead my drive consists of a half hour of Christian variety talk radio.
Ugh.
I hate variety talk radio. Every once in a while I will stop on a station if the topic interests me. But cutesy Bible quizzes and small talk about God interspersed with worship music and authors peddling their latest Christian books? No thanks.
The little mini studies were so encouraging. But now they’ve managed to turn God into the same ol’ canned crap that’s on all the other stations.
How sad.
Faithful listener pt. 2
Posted by: dana on: April 30, 2008
Today I’ll just share with you one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands. It usually moves me more than anything I can find on a Christian CD label. Not to knock Christian labels, but I find most of the songs to be lackluster, and often it feels like the artist is trying too hard to prove their love or devotion. It doesn’t feel natural, as a relationship with God should ideally feel. There are exceptions of course whom I quite enjoy, but I find that most of my favorites are not.
I think it’s better if you listen to it.
“Run to the Water”
By Live
Oh desert speak to my heart
Oh woman of the earth
Maker of children who weep for love
Maker of this birth
‘Til your deepest secrets are known to me
I will not be moved
I will not be moved
“Don’t try to find the answer
When there ain’t no question here
Brother let your heart be wounded
And give no mercy to your fear”
Adam and Eve live down the street from me
Babylon is every town
It’s as crazy as it’s ever been
Love’s a stranger all around
In a moment we lost our minds here
And lay our spirit down
Today we lived a thousand years
All we have is now
Run to the water
And find me there
Burnt to the core but not broken
We’ll cut through the madness
Of these streets below the moon
These streets below the moon
And I will never leave you
‘Til we can say,
“This world was just a dream
We were sleepin’ now we are awake”
‘Til we can say
In a moment we lost our minds here
And dreamt the world was round
A million mile fall from grace
Thank God we missed the ground
Run to the water
And find me there
Burnt to the core but not broken
We’ll cut through the madness
Of these streets below the moon
With a nuclear fire of love in our hearts
Yeah, I can see it now lord
Out beyond all the breakin’ of waves
And the tribulation
It’s a place and the home of ascended souls
Who swam out there in love!
Run to the water
And find me there
Burnt to the core but not broken
We’ll cut through the madness
Of these streets below the moon
With a nuclear fire of love in our hearts
Rest easy baby, rest easy
And recognize it all as light and rainbows
Smashed to smithereens and be happy
Run to the water (and find me there)
Run to the water
Penalty
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