You are currently browsing the monthly archive for May 2011.
Last night I saw one of the best concerts of my life…now, granted, I’m not an avid concert goer, so it wasn’t hard to top what I’ve seen, but I’d dare say it was one of the best concerts I’ll ever see: “Weird Al” Yankovic.
That man’s concert was a work of genius. A flawless seam of music, movie clips, and costumes. For instance, he opened with what I’m guessing is his new polka medley off his upcoming album (Alpocalypse, for those interested) and then went into “Frank’s 2000” TV” and “You Don’t Love Me Anymore”. Then he and most of the band exited the stage while clips from movies, pop culture, and fake interviews he’s done with famous artists played on a big screen. After 3 or so minutes of that, the band returned, most dressed to mimic Nirvana for Yankovic’s famous “Smells Like Nirvana” parody. And this is how the rest of the night went. A couple songs would be played, quick break, and Al was back in some get-up. He kept things fresh and entertaining, and if you were about to get bored something would happen that would wrap you back into the experience.
So why am I, who usually blogs about serious things, posting this on my blog? Well, while I want to be a writer, my primary passion lies in music (well, theology, but music as an expression). Seeing how Weird Al performed (this way) opened my eyes to being an entertaining band on stage. Yes, for me the message comes first, but if it’s a concert you gotta entertain them. And how do you do that? I was surprised to see that you can, in fact, be creative with a concert performance. I’m so used to rigid choral and praise team performances where if you move an inch you fail the class or get thrown out of the church. But a real concert can go beyond those rigid fences and, to quote Weird Al, dare to be stupid.
So if you ever plan on going into music performance, I would highly recommend seeing Weird Al live. It’s worth the money.
I don’t get why people complain about the weather. Why, late last summer we were sitting dead in the water, besieged by draught and rediculously hot temperatures. Everyone complained about it till they were sick.
Then came winter and with it a bitter cold. Now everyone complained that it was too cold. Spring rolls around and SURPRISE here comes buckets of rain. And the same people who complained about the draught in the summer, complain about it’s solution in the spring. Irony.
I’ve been studying through the Gospel of John and am currently wrapping up the section of Jesus’ trial. From chapter 18:28-19:16, Jesus stands between Pilate, the Roman governor, and the chief priests, the religious leaders of the day. Irony drips from those verses. The religious leaders refuse to enter Pilate’s house because he’s a Gentile and doing so would defile them and keep them from the Passover meal, yet they willingly bring Jesus out to murder Him. Later, when Pilate presents Jesus as their King, they blaspheme and say that their only king is Caesar. The ones who claimed to have religion really weren’t religious at all.
But the irony continues. Pilate is a man of power. He even tells Jesus so (19:10). But he has, in fact, no power at all over the situation. He can’t calm the Jews down and he can’t even outwit his prisoner. Jesus exposes Pilate’s helplessness in 19:11. The man who was supposed to have the most power was really powerless in reality.
But over and against this stands Jesus, who is truly “religious” (see James 1:26-27) and is honoring God through His actions and speech. He is also the one who is totally in power and in supreme control over the situation. Jesus exposes his captors’ and accusers’ hypocrisy by just standing there.
So what does that have to do with the weather? Give a person enough time and he will contradict himself. Someone can complain about storms and rain in the spring and then 4 months down the road turn and complain about the lack thereof in the summer. It’s an ironic contradiction. Perhaps we throw around religion like talk of the weather. We go to church, use pious language, occassionally do a kind act, but are we really “religious”? Are we anything like Jesus? Examine yourself and your motives. Is your faith in a truly powerful God genuine or just a mask?…kind of like your critiques of the weather, you claim that you miss the rain, but as soon as it comes you suddenly miss the sun.
So a really old guy named Harold Camping (who’s probably older than Ralph Nader,if that’s possible) is proclaiming that May 21st (tomorrow as of this posting) will be the rapture of Christians and judgment day will soon follow.
Needless to say I don’t believe this guy. I already have doubts about the rapture as it’s commonly conceived in the church, but this guy takes it to an extreme level. He ignores the Bible and relies on mathematics and human brain-power to come up with a date, not God’s actual words. Yet, to give credit where credit is due, at least he’s telling other people about it in hopes that they repent…
Of course, no one outside of his sect believe him. He and his followers have become a laughstock to the entire world, Christians and non alike. Jokes overflow on facebook and twitter. Meteorologists are putting out weather forecasts to mock the man and his group. “Businesses” are cropping up to cash in on these willing dupes.
Now, like I said, I don’t agree with this guy at all. But there’s something about all this joking that makes me cringe. It’s not that I think the jokes are sinful or sacrilegious, it’s the attitude behind the jokes. It reminds me of the night I graduated from high school (appropriate since i just graduated from college). I went to a really smart party at a friend’s house. Everyone was dancing around in celebration. Most of the guys were smoking pipes and cigars. And everyone cheered along as the Boys Like Girls song “Great Escape” played. I had nothing against the smoking, dancing, or cheering, but I recognized that it was all stemming from this rebellion we had kept pent up inside for the past 4+ years.
That’s what kinda unsettles me with all these “rapture parties” and jokes. I’m fine with the jokes, but can’t you hear the world mocking Christianity in a roundabout way? Yes, the mocking for the rapture is deserved, but it’s like all that rebellion that is pent up inside is finding itself a voice and isn’t just mocking Harold Camping, but all Christians and our God. Maybe I’m reading too deep. But friends, we live in a world that shrieks in delight when an opportunity comes to poke fun at our Maker,like little kids who enjoy caricaturing a scary neighbor when he’s out of sight and sound. So check your heart, and be careful how far you go and laugh.
[Side note: As stupid as Harold Camping is, shouldn't there be at least some level of respect for him? I mean, we don't spend time making a daily mockery of Islam or Buddhism or any other religion, but this is fine? Ironic? Hypocritical?]
For the second time in my life (not counting kindergarten), I graduated. On Friday, May 13th, I stepped “out the door”, this time with an Associate’s Degree in Biblical and Theological Studies from Boyce College. And now I am left with the question of “what’s next?”
My current answer is, “i have no clue.” I feel like my life can go in several different directions…toward music, toward writing, toward further study, toward etc. To a point I feel like I need to study more..not that I want to or even think it necessary, but because “it’s just the thing to do.” But what about music or writing? My brain whirls at the thought of all my “options”, which aren’t necessarily options that are open doors, but they’re just the likely or obvious options in my mind.
And that’s frustrating. When I graduated from high school 3 years ago I thought I knew where I was going. I had great expectations. But practically none of those expectations have been met. I’m left off in more confusion than before. College didn’t clear much up, it made things muddier. I’m left with a degree I can do practically nothing with. I’m sitting dead in the water, waiting for a torpedo to strike me. Don’t get me wrong, I learned alot from Boyce. I gained many friends from my time there and appreciate the professors I had. But I get frustrated when I look back at my past 3 years and think, “what on earth have I been doing?”
Again, I find this song I wrote for my high school graduation very appropriate for this time in my life. As this short chapter closes and a new one begins, I’d say my prayer is best expressed in this song:
Out the Door
Prov. 3:5-6, 16:9, 20:24
Words and Music by John Underdown
V1- I seem to recall a time before
When all I wanted was nothing more
than to fly away from everything I know.
But now that time has come and passed,
The days are gone; I’m here at last,
Wondering if I’m really ready to go.
Chorus-The future is waiting; the wind is at my back.
I’m going over every line to find out what I lack.
(With) all my dreams before me, I pray that I succeed.
Right now, the joy and strength of God are what I really need.
‘Cause I’m on my way out the door…
V2- I’m standing here at the gate,
I struggle and I hesitate,
Should I lift the anchor with wind in my sail?
The door swings wide; the moment comes,
I’ve reached the end of infinite sums,
Now a new life lies just beyond a veil. (Chorus)
Bridge- I follow my heart, but still I’m scared,
I’m daring to do what I’ve never dared.
O God, You alone know my way.
Trusting You, I lose my grip.
Be my guide on this lifelong trip.
O God, You alone have the final say.
Chorus
* john’s room music. ’09.
——————-
if you’d like to listen to this song, click on the following link and scroll to the bottom of the page where there is a music player and listen for free!
