One artist releasing a career-defining disk.

The other proving that he is still The Boss.

Melissa Etheridge’s The Awakening is a companion to Bruce’s earlier “The Rising.” Far and away the best outing of her career. Every track crackles with emotion, rage and pathos.

“The Kingdom of Heaven” is my favorite track:

The first single is “Message To Myself”

And what can be said about Bruce? It’s his best album since “Born In The USA.” And that’s high praise.

“Radio Nowhere”

This past Sunday night I was teaching through the book of Revelation. As we were discussing chapter 12 I made the statement that I don’t believe that Scripture teaches that Satan is a fallen angel. I’m never able to get far past that declaration without someone stopping me.

Ultimately, I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that God created evil. For me, it teeters at the brink of a dualism that I can’t quite embrace. The very idea of Theodicy, reconciling the existence of a loving God with the presence of evil, is very troubling to me. If there was ever an area where my faith could most be attacked, as for many of us, this would be it.

Theodicy is a process that is fraught with danger and unanswered questions. When we are honest we must admit that many of our conclusions rarely rise above platitudes and shallow theology. For many of life’s catastrophe’s there is no explanation, no justification for the heart-ache, pain, war and injustices that we wage against one another.

That is why my theodicy is best summed up from the writings of Julian of Norwich, “All shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.” That, to me, is the gospel. It is the hope that we have as children of God. It seems like such a simple saying but it is so profound and deep that it is many days the one thing that gives me hope: that all will be well. I would like to give a greater reading into Julian of Norwich and I might do so later. For now, look her up on your own. Her story is a compelling one. You will be blessed.

The power and resonance of that conclusion is why, over the past year, this song by Gabe Dixon has been on frequent rotation on my iPod. He crystallizes in four minutes the truth, beauty, hope and glory that we have that God is good and “all will be well.”

The new day dawns
And I am practicing my purpose once again
It is fresh and it is fruitful if I win
but if I lose, ooh, I don’t know
I’ll be tired but I will turn and I will go
Only guessing ’til I get there then I’ll know
Ohh, I will know

And all the children walking home past the factories
Can see the light that’s shining in my window
As I write this song to you
And all the cars running fast along the interstate
Can feel the love that radiates
Illuminating what I know is true

And all will be well
Even after all the promises you’ve broken to yourself
All will be well
You can ask me how but only time will tell

The winter’s cold
But the snow still lightly settles on the trees
And a mess is still a moment I can seize until I know
That all will be well
Even though sometimes this is hard to tell
And the fight is just as frustrating as hell
All will be well

And all the children walking home past the factories
Can see the light that’s shining in my window
As I write this song to you
And all the cars running fast along the interstate
Can feel the love that radiates
Illuminating what I know is true

And all will be well
Even after all the promises you’ve broken to yourself
All will be well
You can ask me how but only time will tell

You got to keep it up
And don’t give up
And chase your dreams
And you will find
All in time

And all the children walking home past the factories
Can see the light that’s shining in my window
As I write this song to you
And all the cars running fast along the interstate
Can feel the love that radiates
Illuminating what I know is true

And all will be well
Even after all the promises you’ve broken to yourself
All will be well
You can ask me how but only time will tell

All will be well
Even after all the promises you’ve broken to yourself
All will be well
You can ask me how but only time will tell
You can ask me how but only time will tell

Because my musical tastes tend to favor those artists who focus more on lyrics than polish and studio machinations I have a large number of songs that resonate deeply with biblical truths although they might not be written by Christians. Over the next few weeks I want to share some of those songs with you. I hope the words contained will enrich you and bless you. Note: Just because I spotlight a song does not mean that I endorse the artist and/or their oeuvre.

My first song is by Dolly Parton. It is from a movie that I have never seen: Transamerica. The song is about finding your place. It is about searching and seeking hope, clarity and meaning. My favorite part of the song begins at 3:32 and I never fail to get chills when she belts out “Oh sweet Jesus if you’re out there, keep me ever close to you” It’s one of my kids favorite songs.

The song makes me think of my own spiritual journey. Even now at the age of 39 I’m not sure what lies ahead for me and my family. Uncertainty with Cassie’s condition, my job situation and other issues bring up questions of our directions. We are all wanderers and the hope and promise that Jesus is out there cheering us on makes the journey so much easier.

I’ve been up and down so much over the past few months questioning my ability to preach and teach, wondering if I don’t belong in ministry, and questioning my worth. This song is such a blessing to me. One of my favorite lines is “redemption comes in many shapes with many kinds of pain.” There is still a lot of pain in our lives and in our search. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world. The path to Christ requires the pain.

Watch the video and read the incredible lyrics. For all the punch lines that Dolly Parton has been through the year she has always been an amazing lyricist.

Well I can’t tell you where I’m going, I’m not sure of where I’ve been
But I know I must keep travelin’ till my road comes to an end
I’m out here on my journey, trying to make the most of it
I’m a puzzle, I must figure out where all my pieces fit

Like a poor wayfaring stranger that they speak about in song
I’m just a weary pilgrim trying to find what feels like home
Where that is no one can tell me, am I doomed to ever roam
I’m just travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, I’m just travelin’ on

Questions I have many, answers but a few
But we’re here to learn, the spirit burns, to know the greater truth
We’ve all been crucified and they nailed Jesus to the tree
And when I’m born again, you’re gonna see a change in me

God made me for a reason and nothing is in vain
Redemption comes in many shapes with many kinds of pain
Oh sweet Jesus if you’re listening, keep me ever close to you
As I’m stumblin’, tumblin’, wonderin’, as I’m travelin’ thru

I’m just travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, I’m just travelin’ thru
I’m just travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, I’m just travelin’ thru

Oh sometimes the road is rugged, and it’s hard to travel on
But holdin’ to each other, we don’t have to walk alone
When everything is broken, we can mend it if we try
We can make a world of difference, if we want to we can fly

Goodbye little children, goodnight you handsome men
Farewell to all you ladies and to all who knew me when
And I hope I’ll see you down the road, you meant more than I knew
As I was travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, travelin’ thru

I’m just travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, I’m just travelin’
Drifting like a floating boat and roaming like the wind
Oh give me some direction lord, let me lean on you
As I’m travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, thru

I’m just travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, I’m just travelin’ thru
I’m just travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, I’m just travelin’ thru

Like the poor wayfaring stranger that they speak about in song
I’m just a weary pilgrim trying to find my own way home
Oh sweet Jesus if you’re out there, keep me ever close to you
As I’m travelin’, travelin’, travelin’, as I’m travelin’ thru

Give it until at least 45 seconds in when he starts jamming. And then if you could explain why I love this guy so much I’d appreciate it:

This video is “You are the Light.” It’s quirky and fun. Greg Brooks will probably hate it but he can just break out his Operation: Mindcrime album and tune out

Here is the video for the first cut To The Dogs Or Whoever:

As if that isn’t enough The New Pornographers have a CD out today (their name comes from Jimmy Swaggart who once called music “the new pornography”). They were on Letterman last night. My one quibble with this video is that the cameraman did not realize the true heart of the band, Neko Case:

Wait, one more: Rilo Kiley. Three incredible performers in one day. Can’t beat it:

1. Sting’s prayer that the Russians love their children too.
2. The inane doctrine of Mutual Assured Destruction.

No, it was obvious to my adolescent mind that we were gonna get blowed up. Hopefully, we would have the opportunity to escape their clutches and reassemble in the mountains to make our all out assault on the Russian forces with the lone cry “Wolverines.”

In the midst of that scare came a movie that was so intense and so real that as a slightly skittish 15 year old I refused to watch. The Day After premiered on a Sunday night in November 1983. I was in 10th grade and the movie promised to be a realistic look at the aftermath of a nuclear attack on the United States.

Because it premiered on Sunday night I did not get home in time to watch it in its entirety. Nor did I want to. I remember the anxiety level in the media leading up to its premiere. There was a tremendous amount of controversy about showing something so provocative, something so close to our greatest fears. There would be hot-lines to call after the movie for those freaked out to call. The movie would run uninterrupted after the bombs hit to heighten the anxiety and fear. Vigils were held throughout the country. A debate, moderated by Ted Koppel between Carl Sagan and William F. Buckley aired afterwards. During that debate Sagan said that the arms race was “two sworn enemies standing waist-deep in gasoline, one with three matches, the other with five.”

100 million Americans watched that movie. I was not one of them.

I finally saw the movie this past Saturday night, almost 24 years later. The reality of that sort of event is now the subject of one of my favorite TV shows. So much of the plot and ideas conveyed seemed archaic. The acting was not professional in many cases, nor was it intended to be.

However, despite the passage of time the impact of the film is still compelling. We no longer fear an attack from those behind the Iron Curtain. But still so much of us are gripped by fear. We are more likely to meet our deaths in this nation through natural causes or accidents than we are through a bomb or a bullet. But it is that fear of the “other” that captures our attention, stirs our imagination and quickens the pulse.

24 years later I was seized by the hatred and baseness of man that could elevate the threat of annihilation as a distinct possibility. Man’s inhumanity to man is still one of our greatest sins.

At the conclusion of the film, the producers ran this closing statement:

The catastrophic events you have just witnessed are, in all likelihood, less severe than the destruction that would actually occur in the event of a full nuclear strike against the United States.

It is hoped that the images of this film will inspire the nations of this earth, their peoples and leaders, to find the means to avert the fateful day.

We still must hope that our leaders will find the means to avert war and destruction.

Do you remember seeing The Day After? What were your thoughts when it was shown? To refresh your memory here is the video of the attack:

I dug up this old photograph Look at all that hair we had.
It’s bittersweet to hear you laugh Your phone is ringing I don’t wanna ask

You wanna make a memory?

I’ve long been a Bon Jovi fan. I remember rocking to their debut album while watching the 1984 Olympics. I even liked some of the songs on their second album 7800 Fahrenheit.

So, in many ways I have grown up with them. I’ve always appreciated their music and enjoyed most of their disks. I’m a fan of Jon Bon Jovi. He swings for the fence lyrically in his attempt to be the next Springsteen but never quite get there. But I applaud and respect the attempt.

Growing up with them is part of the reason their latest single resonates with me so much. There is something about the power of memory that each of us, nostalgic or not, must acknowledge plays a part in our lives.

Memory is deceptive but it is at the same time indelible. I was a horrible football player but I am about 2-3 years away from being an all-American in the telling of my football days. The extremes are magnified while the mundane is blurry.

Memory fills in the gaps of our lives. I can still remember where I was when I heard most of those songs I post the videos too so often. I remember the snow falling and hearing Foreigner’s “Waiting For a Girl Like You.” I remember sitting in a movie theater with my fellow incoming seniors and hearing the opening riffs of John Parr’s “St. Elmo’s Fire.” I remember coming alive to the power of music the first time Springsteen’s “Born to Run” came over my radio.

Memories are the road-map that make sense of where we are going. I feel this so closely right now because I’m growing older. I know now a little more clearly how the events of my youth have conspired to bring me to this point. That’s not determinism but an understanding that there have been a series of choices and decisions, friendships forged and forgotten, roads traveled and avoided.

Memories are elusive and periodic friends. I celebrated my 20th high school reunion last year. Seeing the people who had once been the most important folks in my life after 10 years was both a blessing and a reminder of so much that has been lost. Promises to stay in touch never fulfilled and appointments never met. I think this is so profound right now because I look back now over such a long period in my life marked by wanderlust and transitoriness. I long for permanence in friendships, for alliances and relations renewed and resurrected.

Memories are glimpses of the eternal. I know that these memories are signs that true friendships may be marked my periods of dormancy but never pass. I carry faces, names and moments with me that will carry with me no matter where I go. For we shall meet again. Everytime I see a familiar name on Facebook or other reaches of this smaller world we inhabit I am stirred by the realization that all of us fall into the arms of a loving Father God. We shall meet again.

You want to make a memory?

The album is called “Cigarettes and Gasoline.” The title song deals with his father’s still unsolved murder when Emerson was a boy. The entire album is full of heart-felt emotional lyrics and some stellar arrangements.

Here is the debut single from the album “If You’re Gonna Leave.” Not the best sound quality but you can get the idea:

Here is the promotional video for the album where he talks about the tunes and you can get a better idea of the quality of the songs:

Give this guy a listen.