Coming this weekend

You do not want to miss these two artists…All Son’s & Daughters coming Sat & Sun to PCC….

April 21st mark it down

It was last September when I first heard All Sons & Daughters at a conference in downtown Chicago. I found the music of David Leonard and Leslie Jordan fresh, honest, thoughtful and moving.

In a very unique and uncharacteristicly me move, I said to my colleagues Dave and Steve, “We need to get them to come to Parkview.” Well, they made it happen. On the weekend of April 21 & 22, All Sons & Daughters will travel up from Nashville to Glen Ellen. Saturday evening will be a more subdued interactive worship type experience while Sunday morning will feature All Sons & Daughters leading the church in all three services. Mark down the dates Parkview – you don’t want to miss this two day event.  Invite some guests – you won’t be disappointed.

grace

by Mo Bella Russo

Because of his love and grace, God takes the empty canvas of our lives and creates beautiful things.  These paintings were created in the few minutes we discussed this on Sunday.  The song “Beautiful Things”by Gungor was featured while our artist was at work.

by Mo Bella Russo

All this reminds me of the Apostle Paul’s words, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;  the old is gone, the new has come!”

disaster porn and cultural obsession

Last weekend was supposed to be the end of the world or so claimed self-declared bible scholar Harold Camping who continues to fail miserably at his attempts to identify the exact time [to the hour] of Judgment Day’s arrival. He has now switched the date to October 21st – I mean, who takes this guy seriously?

Yet, as a culture, let’s not be too harsh with Mr. Camping. We too have our own obsession with the idea of Judgment Day. Don’t we? From the Discovery Channel’s popular programs on Nostradamus and his disaster day predictions – to the Mayan calendar 2012 – to the vast array of Hollywood anti-Christ, apocalyptic, destruction of human race themed blockbusters [‘disaster porn’ as some have called it] – our western world’s lust for devastation seems insatiable. Apparently the German people have a term for it: ruinenlust [love of ruins].

Our fascination can be traced way back. For example, in the 13th century Thomas Celano wrote a poem about Judgment Day called Dies Irae. Four centuries later the lyrics become the most famous movement of Mozart’s Requiem.“Day of wrath! O day of mourning! See fulfilled the prophets’ warning, Heaven and earth in ashes burning!”
  Sound familiar?  Today this music shows up everywhere from The Seventh Seal to the X-Men trilogy, the musical Rent, and even in a commercial for AXE cologne.  What this has to do with smelling good – I don’t know.

Here’s my point. It seems Mr. Camping isn’t the only person fixated on the notion of Judgment Day. If we are quick to condemn his obsession with it, as a culture we might want to reflect on the reason for our own.

A fun song

Who can you sing this song to today?  Surely someone.  Don’t wait, tell them “I love you.”

Just heard of this Bird

From Indie rock to baroque pop, Andrew Bird is a Chicago guy with some amazing talent and a very unique sound.

more with less

Sometimes it is indeed possible to do more with less. Here is a man who makes it happen using his old beat up guitar with only three strings and a box. Ever hear of him? You go Seasick Steve — you go boy.

Ain’t got no hymns

What prompted this song — I have no idea but it is true.  Atheists are without hymns.  Thank God or in the atheist case, ‘thank goodness’ for Steve Martin’s sensitivity and creativity.

Any other Le loup fans out there?

For anyone who really cares…here’s an indie band I just started listening to on the recommendation of my favorite and most beloved son and trusted music aficionado.  Thanks C!

Le Loup – Morning Song. 

another artist

It seems I’ve been introduced to a number of exceptional musicians lately – at least I think they’re exceptional. Obviously, the appreciation of art in any form tends to be pretty subjective. Like many, I enjoy thinking “But I really know what is good and what isn’t” – esp when it comes to music. Recognizing that just isn’t true, as a raging amateur music critic - I offer the sound of Alexi Murdoch for consideration.