Why I Don't Sing New Songs

It's not that I don't sing any new songs, rather it's just that I don't sing songs the first time I hear them. Surely your been somewhere where you have sung or a friend has been singing along to a new song...a church, a concert, listening to a brand new CD.
Many moons ago I was at a small music festival and Geoff Moore and the Distance was playing, yes I said Geoff Moore and the Distance, and it was awesome! The band was gearing up to release their brand new album entitled Homerun. The boys decided to debut for us two new songs. The first song was "Best Days". I can remember clearly the response of the crowd. We quickly picked up the theme and message of the song and before the song reached the end of it's chorus we were singing along.
After the song was over Geoff stood flabbergast and said something to the effect of "I've never had an audience sing along to a song they didn't know. That's incredible."
That moment has stuck with me. While I've been guilty of this since that moment it has certainly been a while. I find that it typically happens during worship songs. The audience wanting so much to be in the experience will chime along to lyrics they don't know. Plus they feel that because the words are in front of them on powerpoint or whatever that they can follow.
It's incredibly embarrassing when the song changes tempos or has an awkward pause and the crowd keeps singing anyways for a beat or two. Everyone turns and looks silently judging the persons mistake.
So I make it a point never to sing a song I've never heard before. Even if it's obvious chorus or melody that I know I can follow.

Bono quote

From the book Bono: in converstation with Michka Assayas.

In response to the question, "What about the God of the Old Testament? He wasn't so 'peace and love'," Bono answers:

"There's nothing hippie about my picture of Christ. The Gospels paint a picture of a very demanding, sometimes divisive love, but love it is. I accept the Old Testament as more of an action movie: blood, car chases, evacuations, a lot of special effects, seas dividing, mass murder, adultery. The children of God are running amok, wayward. Maybe that's why they're so relatable. But the way we would see it, those of us who are trying to figure out our Christian conundrum,
is that the God of the Old Testament is like the journey from stern father to friend. When you're a child, you need clear directions and some strict rules, but with Christ, we have access to a one-to-one relationship, for, as in the Old Testament, it was more one of worship and awe, a vertical relationship. The New Testament , on the other hand, we look across at a Jesus who looks familiar, horizontal. The combination is what makes the cross."

(thanks to Snapshots from my World)

Personallity

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What do you all think? Would you agree with the above as an accurate representation of who I am?

-T-
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"ISTJs are often called inspectors. They have a keen sense of right and wrong, especially in their area of interest and/or responsibility. They are noted for devotion to duty. Punctuality is a watchword of the ISTJ. The secretary, clerk, or business(wo)man by whom others set their clocks is likely to be an ISTJ."
- ISTJ Profile (TypeLogic)

"ISTJs are very loyal, faithful, and dependable. They place great importance on honesty and integrity. They are "good citizens" who can be depended on to do the right thing for their families and communities. While they generally take things very seriously, they also usually have an offbeat sense of humor and can be a lot of fun - especially at family or work-related gatherings."
- Portrait of an ISTJ (The Personality Page)

"...characterized by decisiveness in practical affairs, are the guardians of institutions, and if only one adjective could be selected, "super dependable" would best describe them."
- The Portrait of the Inspector Guardian (Keirsey)

"...private, does not appreciate strangeness, not adventurous, not spontaneous, follows the rules..."
- Jung Type Descriptions (ISTJ) (similarminds.com)

"At work, ISTJs get things done on a timely basis. They honor deadlines, and they believe in thoroughness. A half-finished joy is not a job well done. They established procedures and schedules, and are uncomfortable with those who do not do the same. ISTJs put duty before pleasure. As long as they can fulfil their responsibilities, they feel useful and thereby satisfied. Their work does not have to be fun, but it has to count toward something productive. ISTJs believe that vacations are something that one takes only when work has been accomplished; thus, at times they do not take vacations even when they could and should."
- ISTJ - The Reliant (Lifexplore)

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Real ISTJ People
Andrew Johnson - American President
Benjamin Harrison - American President
Elizabeth II - Queen of England
Evander Holyfield - boxer
George H. W. Bush - American President
George Washington - American President
Harry Truman - American President
Herbert Hoover - American President
Jack Webb - actor, producer
Jackie Joyner-Kersee - athlete (heptathlon)
Thomas - Christ's Apostle
Warren Buffet - investor, businessman

Fictional ISTJs (Characters)
Angel Eyes - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Bruce Wayne - Batman Begins
Cliff Clavin - Cheers
Dallas - Alien
Darth Vader - Star Wars
Eeyore - Winnie the Pooh
Evelyn Cross Mulwray - Chinatown
Frankie Dunn - Eastwood in Million Dollar Baby
Fred Mertz - I Love Lucy
Gen. Yevgraf Zhivago - Doctor Zhivago
Jet Black - Cowboy Bebop
Joe Friday - Dragnet
Julia - Cowboy Bebop
Lornette 'Mace' Mason - Strange Days
Mama Montana - Scarface
Mr. Martin - Sitting in the Catbird Seat
Puddleglum - Chronicles of Narnia

Motivational Posters

I don't know if I agree with all these posters at Spurgen.org, but they are kinda fun. Here are a few for your enjoyment:

Mental Floss Questions

Asked at Mental Floss so I thought I'd answer.

1) If you could have written any movie in history – or, more accurately, if you could tell people that you’d written any movie in history – what would it be?

I suppose I might say Clerks, but not as perverse. Kevin Smith has a knack at writing dialogue that doesn't seem forced or unnatural, yet within it's absurdness there can be some depth and insight. So instead of Clerks I'll say Dogma.

2) What’s a food you’d fake a fainting spell to avoid having to eat?

Mushrooms and Olives.

3) What historical figure (pre-1900) would have made the best mental_floss blogger?

Benjamin Franklin

4) With what character – book, film, stage or television – do you most relate?

A little bit of Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer.

5) Coin a new phrase that means “I’m having a good time at this party.”

"It's falling off the bone!"

Great, Strange News

Japanese biker fails to notice missing leg... after continuing to drive for another mile.

Have You Seen This?

Click HERE for more info.

Branding

Our summer camp theme was Branded, which had me thinking a lot about the marketing understanding. As it's lingered in my mind over the summer I went back and found this diagram that Marko posted some time back.

I really want to create a youth evangelism strategy around this thinking. I'm still formulating some ideas on how to motivate students along the same thought process. Does anyone know of some material that could educate me more about branding?

Records are Chaos

I was linked to this video from Extra Mustard at SI.com.
How unforgetable this moment will be to one of these camera men.



...or...



...and one more...



I love baseball!

New Home Run King!

He did it! 756. A solo shot toward right field. Awesome!

I hope you saw it.

With the crowd chanting "Barry! Barry!" Barry dug in and took the 2-2 pitch from Mike Bacsik deep. He knew it immediately. I guess everyone did. You could feel it as he first stepped in teh box.

The Giants honored Barry with a tapped message on the scoreboard from Hank Aaron. And then allowed Barry a moment to say thank you. Bonds thanked his family, the fans, the Nationals, and struggled to thank his father.

You have to respect the fact that the two previous at bats and the record breaking at bat, Bacisk didn't pitch around Barry but challenged him. He didn't offer up a batting practice pitch, but only threw the hittable pitch when the count dictated it. As Barry rounded the bases Bacsik even tipped his hat to Barry.

Wow. I so glad I didn't miss this. History in the making. Forget for a moment all the controversy and dwell in the amazement that he actually hit 756 homers. I challenge you to take batting practice and see how long it would take you to hit 756 home runs. Brillant.

Still in awe! I saw Barry hit 70, 71 and 72 in that single season and now I actually saw this too.

It looks like a Mets fan caught the ball. The police mobbed him out of the stadium.

Awesome, awesome, awesome!

755

2007-August-4

Barry Bonds hit #755 into the left field seats tonight to tie Hank Aaron for the home run record. (as of this post he's been walked the next two at bats)