Just From Sin & Self To Cease

4 01 2012

I was going to blog about moving to St. Louis & forging new relationships & jumping into ministry, and I’ll probably get to that at some point, but for tonight, and for the last several days really, this has been my heart. I’m praying that it becomes more and more real in my life and more and more real in your lives in this coming year.

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

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Categories : Faith, Music

Throw Its Cover Down On Me Again

16 11 2009

It’s long been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery (no one knows who said it, don’t ask). I’m not entirely sure that that’s true, but I do know that in music it’s at least usually entertaining.

Lately my musical bent has shifted to covers. Maybe it’s the attention cover music is getting thanks to Fox’s new hit Glee. (BTW – the version of “Dancing With Myself” from last week’s episode is worth a listen.)  A good cover isn’t just so-and-so’s rendition of a song, but a version that both pays homage to and/or reinvents the original. Cover songs need to be well-known in their original version, but a spectacular cover will make one forget (at least momentarily) the original all together. There’s a difference between covering a song and just recording a song. The movies “Across the Universe” and “I Am Sam” offered up some fabulous Beatles covers, but the fact that everyone seems to be recording “Hallelujah” in the 00′s doesn’t mean they’re covering the Leonard Cohen original (except possibly Jeff Buckley). See the difference?

I’m compiling a playlist of sensational covers. My favorites on the list so far are: Bob Schneider’s “If I Only Had a Brain,” The Fray’s “Heartless,” Tyler Hilton’s “Missing You” and Gavin DeGraw’s “Let’s Get It On.” I’m realizing that for every great song covered (like Queen Latifah’s “California Dreamin’”), there’s an equally schmaltzy and horrific cover on the market. (Mandy Moore’s “Mona Lisas and Madhatters” is just wrong.)

The list is ever-growing, but I definitely need more suggestions. What are your favorite covers?


Comments : 2 Comments »

Categories : Music, Snark

She’s Got Something I’m Looking For

30 09 2009

Last night some friends and I went to see Ingrid Michaelson in concert. She’s amazing live and the concert was everything you want a concert to be: intimate, fun, inspiring. I left there with the feeling that if she and I knew each other, we’d be kooky friends.

The guy that opened for Ingrid was a guy named Greg Holden. He’s a baby-faced, guitar playing British kid, and his music was good, but a little generic for a guy still trying to make a name for himself. I happily tuned out until he sang this song, which resonated in my soul in such a way I feel like I could have written it.

It’s called “She’s Got Something.” It’s on his EP and you should give it a listen on youtube or itunes, but until then – you should read the lyrics below: a love letter to a city.

SHE’S GOT SOMETHING by GREG HOLDEN

Well it all started out
In a wonderful city we all know
But on street that few have seen
I couldn’t figure whereabouts
All of our moves were meant to go
But I knew that I was keen

And from that moment on
My life would never be the same

I flew to see her twice a year
But all that did was make it worse
My days grew longer back at home
Then suddenly I saw so clear
This town just doesn’t quench my thirst
Oh no no no

And I knew from that moment on
My life would never be the same
She was a tough one to restrain
She was the one that got away

Get me back, Get me back to New York
She’s got something I’m looking for
Get me back, Get me back to New York
She’s got something I’m looking for

What came next was what I didn’t expect
You might say she swept me off my feet
And there was more upset
But certainly no regrets
Of the night we met within those streets

And from that moment on
My life would never be the same
She was a tough one to restrain
She was the one that got away

Get me back, Get me back to New York
She’s got something I’m looking for
Get me back, Get me back to New York
She’s got something I’m looking for


Comments : 1 Comment »

Categories : Music

How The Feeling Comes and Why It Goes

20 09 2009

The very first day of 7th grade volleyball, I broke the ring finger on my left hand. It was weeks before I realized it was actually broken instead of jammed – thanks to some serious bruising and my exceptionally high tolerance for pain. The top knuckle now only bends about 65 rather than 90 degrees. My mom was initially upset because it’s my “wedding ring” finger, but no one’s put a ring on it and I’m fairly certain that has nothing to do with my finger being slightly misshapen on close examination. It can’t be even be blamed for ending my volleyball career (though looking back, I probably should have taken it as an omen and walked away).

The fact of the matter is that I seldom notice it. It’s not like now, 17 years later, the finger still hurts. On the very rare occasion that I use the ring finger on my left hand, I’ve learned to compensate. I can still (almost) set a volleyball (let’s face it, I was never stellar or I wouldn’t have broken the finger to begin with). I can still type about 100 words a minute – more if I’m writing in stream of consciousness and don’t have to worry about pesky things like spelling and punctuation.

The only time my pesky finger bothers me is when I pick up a guitar after stepping away from it for a while. I need to learn just NOT to fall out of practice because every time I do, I have to retrain that stupid finger to stay on the correct string. It’s not a huge deal playing the majority of chords. With G, C, & D  chords (aka – everything you ever needed to know to play a praise song), I can rest gracefully on the E, A, & B strings with nary an issue.

It’s the blasted F chords that are so darn difficult. I know, I know, barre chords (chords where 1 finger covers more than 1 string) are difficult for everyone. It’s just that when my index finger is in barre position (even if it’s two measly strings), my stupid, janky ring finger won’t bend like it’s supposed to bend in order to stay where it’s supposed to stay. My fingernail (which is trimmed short) grabs the sting above or my finger grazes the string below. The whole experience means that I not only have to eat my Wheaties to strenghten the muscles in my hand (which is a seriously underrated and little known element of guitar playing), but also practice some sort of crazy finger yoga to work on my flexibility.

I’ll eventually adjust. I always do. I’ll remember how to roll my finger and wrist just so to compensate. After a few days of practicing the calluses will be in the right place and my hand muscles will remember how to behave. Until then, though, I’ll rue the day I tried out for 7th grade volleyball, and contemplate (what would at this point be elective) orthopedic surgery to correct something I hardly ever notice.


Comments : 1 Comment »

Categories : Childhood, Health, Music

People, They Need Piano Keys

17 09 2009

I love music. I spend most of my day listening to it and still can’t get enough. If it’s done well, it can stir your soul before you ever understand a lyric. It’s the reason my post titles are all song lyrics (PS – if you’re playing THE GAME – or want to – there are lots of posts still to guess).

There are some songs, some artists, that just make you feel at home. For some: it’s artists in which they see them selves, for others: songs with a beat that drives something home; still others enjoy a hook that draws you in and stays with you; some people look for lyric driven song and others are looking for a catchy tune.

Personally, I’m drawn to phenomenal musicians…which makes my music library pretty varied. If you can incorporate a 12 sting guitar or didgeridoo or a marimba or multiple families of instruments or multiple genres of music, you’ve caught my attention. That’s how I discovered Pink Martini and fell in love.

This week, though, it’s been Monsters of Folk.

MOF-minix500

I’m in love. The group is M. Ward (of, well, a bunch of stuff including She & Him), Jim James (of My Morning Jacket) and Conor Oberst & Mike Mogis (both of Bright Eyes). If any of these men happened to be single and love Jesus (and by the sound of this album – there’s a good chance of that), I’d marry him tomorrow. That’s how in love with their new album I am.

It’s been streaming on their MySpace since yesterday and I’ve been listening non-stop. I can’t wait for the actual release on Tuesday so I can have it on my phone and iPod and in my car and on my computer…


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Categories : Music

Innocence, Dragged Across A Yellow Line

13 09 2009

I didn’t post this on September 11th because even 8 years later it still seems too fresh, too real, too overwhelming. I wonder if we’ve forever damaged ourselves by not bothering to find some moniker other than the date. Pearl Harbor, the assassination of JFK, the assassination of MLK, Jr…these are all significantly traumatizing events in American history, but we don’t all collectively reflect EVERY December 7, November 22, or April 4.

Is it just that 9/11 is still raw? That it’s too soon for the wounds to have healed? Is it that, unlike those other events, we don’t (and may never have) some sort of closure? Is it that I’m too young to remember those other things? Are the internal calendars of the generations who have gone before marred with multiple corporately traumatizing events? If so, will my generation learn to live with the horrors that kept us glued to our telephones and televisions 8 years ago? I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing.

Regardless, though, I do believe healing is on the horizon. This short video has been playing in my head for the last couple of days. It’s the final scene to Gangs of New York and the music is the beginning strains of U2′s “The Hands that Built America.” The skyline of NYC has changed since this video, and if history is any indicator it’ll change again and again and again. NYC is stronger for the changes shown here, and it (just as every one of us) is getting stronger every day.


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Categories : Music, Tragedy

Friends to Know, Ways to Grow…

28 08 2009

Today, I join my generation in mourning the loss of a formative part of our collective childhood.

Thank you for introducing us to the greatness of “Bea and Mr. Jones,” “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie,” “Miss Nelson is Back,” and “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.” You have been a dear friend to us all, and I suspect your loss will be reflected not only in our hearts but in our deteriorating culture in the years to come.

RIP Reading Rainbow 1983-2009


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Categories : Childhood, Literature, Music

Breeze It, Buzz It, Easy Does It

13 08 2009

I’m not sure if you have to be a fan of musicals, technology, or just a member of generation x/y to get this, but I find it quite amusing. I had someone tell me the other day that facebook is the new bar (i.e. place where you meet/pick up people). Evidently CollegeHumor agrees.


Comments : 1 Comment »

Categories : Modernity, Music

You Make Me Feel Like I Am Just A Child

7 08 2009

I wish the day to day of life called for more occasion to be this quirky.

PS – I want to be Zooey Deschanel when I grow up. As she’s 2 months younger than I, this could be a problem.


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Categories : Adulthood, Music

With Me It’s All or Nothin’*

2 08 2009

I think sometimes we miss out by not singing all the verses of hymns. I find it odd that we don’t. We don’t do it with any songs other than hymns, really. It’s not like Bono’s ever stood on stage and only sung the first and third verses of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.”

Sometimes I think we need a reminder that even the songs we think of as simple can be radically profound. Case in point:

Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! This I know,
As He loved so long ago,
Taking children on His knee,
Saying, “Let them come to Me.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me still today,
Walking with me on my way,
Wanting as a friend to give
Light and love to all who live.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! He who died
Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way;
Thou hast bled and died for me,
I will henceforth live for Thee.

Seriously? Wow. I think we’re handicapping kids by not giving them more than 1 verse and chorus. That song’ll preach, my friends. It’ll preach.

*The lyrics for this post title aren’t taken from a song that has anything to do with this post. I’m just an all or nothin’ kind of girl. Sorry if this causes confusion.


Comments : 1 Comment »

Categories : Adulthood, Childhood, Faith, Music

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