Crooked Deep Down by Derek Webb

Listen to: Crooked Deep Down

Read Lyrics for: Crooked Deep Down

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Here is what Derek Webb says about his song Crooked Deep Down:

"Think of the most despicable person you can think of…In our culture for the past 10 years it’s been Marilyn Manson. He is despicable…and you know what? So am I. And so are you. He might not try to hide his sin like we might do, but the only real difference between us is something that we were given for free: Jesus."

This song reminds me of my sinful nature. I think Christians are portrayed in the media as a people who claim to be perfect and our always condemning of everyone and everything. For example, Christians are in an uproar right now at Larry David (Seinfeld creator) for something he did on one of his latest shows. I love this dude's quote:

"I loved this show and thought it was so funny. All that's changed. I can't believe he is this crude and would go to this extreme to insult so many."

So this dude is willing to lower his standards and watch a show that uses coarse language, features cheating spouses, and mocks humanity, yet this crosses the line? Maybe he should choose his television watching habits more carefully.

I never understand why Christians get offended so easily. Does this show change the way I view Jesus? No. Do I have to laugh at it? No. Do I even have to watch it? No. Then what's the big deal? It seems to me that it just gives another opportunity point a finger to make oneself feel more holy.

Editor's Note: I am neither applauding or condoning this show or the specific incident in the show. I am just making an observation.

This is just one of the many examples of Christians getting upset at everyone and everything. Maybe we should stop and look in the mirror once in a while and get upset with ourselves, because we are all Crooked Deep Down.

Who Are You Listening To - Ginny Owens

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Who Are You Listening To

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Who Are You Listening To

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I was reading Hebrews Chapter 2 this week and read the heading for Chapter 2. It says, "Warning to Pay Attention". Here is the passage:

Warning to Pay Attention

¹We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. ²For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, ³how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. ⁴God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

This passage made me think of Ginny Owens' song "Who Are You Listening To". We all listen to someone or something. Maybe it is TV, radio, friends, or family. Hebrews encourages us to listen to Jesus through his signs, wonders and various miracles. God is not going anywhere. We can choose to listen or not. The disciples were listening.... are you? I encourage you to listen to this song, and then listen to what Jesus is trying to communicate to you this week.

Gravity by Shawn McDonald

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I wanted to share Shawn McDonald with you because he is coming to play a show this weekend at Sacred Grounds Coffee Shop in Lafayette, IN. Melissa and I are planning on going and would love to meet up with you if you want to go. I have found that my love of Christian music grows exponentially when I get to see an artist play live. Christian artists always have such great stories to share; especially those about the songs they have written.

Another aspect of going to shows that I enjoy is that I usually leave having discovered a new musician that I like. I have discovered almost all of my favorite musicians by watching them open for another artist that I went to see. This weekend, Jared Camp will be opening for Shawn McDonald. Jared is the brother of Christian music superstar Jeremy Camp and they both are from Lafayette, IN. I am quite excited to see Jared. I am interested to see if his music is similar to his brother's or if he has his own style. I will be sure to post a review of the show this weekend. In the meantime, enjoy Gravity by Shawn McDonald.

Far Country by Andrew Peterson

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I am going to begin with music from one of my favorite artists... Andrew Peterson. He is an independent musician and author. This song is called Far Country and is from his latest studio album called The Far Country. I was thinking of what I should say to describe this song and thought it would be easier to let Andrew describe it himself. Below is an excerpt written by Andrew Peterson that describes the meaning of this song and the entire album.

“God is at home. We are in the far country.”
Meister Eckhart

“I read that quote in an Annie Dillard book several years ago and it never left me. Too often we tend to imagine that heaven is a cotton-white cloudscape, a place that doesn’t seem desirable to us here in this sometimes beautiful, sometimes horrifying world. We’re comfortable here, and the skewed notion we have of eternity is that it’s like a never-ending church service, where we’ll be standing mindlessly around a throne, singing bad praise songs to a white haired God for the rest of our existence. From what I know about God, what I’ve read of Him in scripture and what I’ve seen of Him in what has been made – towering mountains, howling wind, purple budded trees, a baby’s touch and a panther’s roar – He is not a tame God. The City He’s prepared for us is not a retirement home. Zion is not a country club. Death is but the cusp of a great adventure, hinted at in Hebrews 11, ‘People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own…they were longing for a better country – a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.’ The songs on this record were born out of a longing for that better country, and it’s my hope that whoever listens to them will feel that God-given flutter in the stomach that reminds us who we are – and where we’re bound.”

Andrew Peterson on The Far Country

Christian Music Does Not Have to Suck

So I am creating this blog to share my love of Christian Music. No... I am not talking about songs that you would hear on K-Love or Way-FM. Nor the lame and uninspiring music you would hear at your grandma's church service. I am talking about Andrew Peterson, Mitch McVicker, Justin McRoberts, and Ginny Owens. I am talking about Sandra McCracken, Andy Gullahorn and Derek Webb. If you are saying, "Who?", then this blog is for you. I hope to share awesome Christian music to those who would have otherwise never known better. There is great Christian music out there, and it is not being spread through radio or church. You have to find it yourself. By visiting my blog, you have taken a great first step.