I'm a firm believer that in God's iPod there are quite a few songs from the secular world and some noticeable absences from the Christian music world. There is music in the secular charts that speak to me of God's love and goodness and the (healthy) fear and trembling that we ought to have for him.

This conviction led me some time ago to declare that Alanis Morresette is my favorite theologian, that statement still stands true for me but she's got some competition from Josh Groben.

My wife downloaded Josh Grobe's "You are loved (don't give up)" from iTunes last night and I've enjoyed listening too it countless times since. It speaks to me about the nature of God and the fact that in our relationship with him he doesn't often take us around times of trouble but he will be there through it.

Here are the full lyrics.

Don't give up
It's just the weight of the world
When your heart's heavy
I...I will lift it for you

Don't give up
Because you want to be heard
If silence keeps you
I...I will break it for you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don't give up
Because you are loved

Don't give up
It's just the hurt that you hide
When you're lost inside
I...I will be there to find you

Don't give up
Because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you
I...I will shine to guide you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don't give up
Because you are loved

You are loved
Don't give up
It's just the weight of the world
Don't give up
Every one needs to be heard
You are loved

(source)

Also on the train this morning this song really stuck out for me so I'm adding it to God's iPod. It's called Burn Away by the Foo Fighers. I really like if for the chorus more than anything which is something like a prayer I often pray. When I get too caught up in my brilliance God reminds me that "pride comes before the fall" (it's in the bible somewhere, I can't remember where exactly). And so I pray, keep me humble, or as the song puts it, burn away my pride! Here's the full lyrics, enjoy. I have spent a lifetime Waiting for the chance To save you my confession Save the one last dance

As I was walking to the train station this morning one of my favorite songs started playing on the iPod. Now that's not too uncommon since I'm the one that fills it with music but this song is one that helps to connect me with God. It's full of Revelation style imagery that makes me think of Jesus in different ways. I've copied the lyrics below but I'll share some stand out bits with you.

This reminds me of the redeeming power of Jesus' blood.

   Ill know you by the thunderclap
   Pouring like a rain of blood to my emotions

I like the idea of Jesus crashing into my world to change it for the better, sinking my sinful world and sending it to the bottom of the sea to be crushed and forgotton.

   When you come like an iceberg float in darkness
   Smashing my hull send me to the bottom of the sea

When I let Jesus into my life those nearly 10 years ago he came in such power he overwealmed me. Directly and indirectly he showed me his love and surrounded me with people who continue to love on me.

   And that is why
   I stumble to my knees
   And why underneath the heavens
   With the stars burning and exploding
   I know I could never let you down

Here's the whole shooting match, When you come by Crowded House.

When you come across the sea
Me like a beacon guiding you to safety
The sooner the better now
And when you come the hils
Will breathe like a baby
Pulled up heaving from the bottom of the ocean
The sooner the better now
When you come to cover me with your kisses
Fresh like a daisy chained up in a lions den
Ill know you by the thunderclap
Pouring like a rain of blood to my emotions

And that is why
I stumble to my knees
And why underneath the heavens
With the stars burning and exploding
I know I could never let you down

When you come like an iceberg float in darkness
Smashing my hull send me to the bottom of the sea
I should know you better now
When you come your majesty to entrap me
Prince of light receding
The sooner the better now
And when you come to cover me
With your kisses hard like armour
The sooner the better now
Ill know you by the thunderclap
Pouring like a rain of blood to my emotions

And that is why
I stumble to my knees
And why underneath the heavens
With the stars burning and exploding
I know I could never let you down

She came out of the water
Into my horizon
Like a cumulo nimbus
Coming in from a distance
Burning and exploding
Burning and exploding
Like a slow volcano
When you come
Cover the ground with ashes
When you come

 

Source

 

One of the defining moments in my life is when I heard "I have a dream" preached by Martin Luther King jr. No, I wasn't alive to see it, but as millions of people have done, I watched a grainy bit of black and white film that is engraved with the sound and images of history in the making.

Why it had such an impact on me, God only knows. I believe it's because of the deep sense of justice he has placed within me. The words resonate with my heart and cause me to be anxious to be doing something, anything to be involved in God's mission of reconciliation.

In his speech MLK makes reference to one of my most beloved peices of Scripture, it is Amos 5:21-24

 I hate, I despise your religious feasts;
    I cannot stand your assemblies.

 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
    I will not accept them.
    Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
    I will have no regard for them.

 Away with the noise of your songs!
    I will not listen to the music of your harps.

 But let justice roll on like a river,
    righteousness like a never-failing stream!

Before I came to know Jesus, before I read these words, I heard them in the lyrics of a song that I used to put on repeat all the time. The song is called Pepper by the Butthole Surfers

 Some will die in hot pursuit
 In fiery auto crashes
 Some will die in hot pursuit
 While sifting through my ashes
 Some will fall in love with life
 And drink it from a fountain
 That is pouring like an avalanche
 Coming down the mountain

Like MLK, I refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt, we do not need to drink from teh cup of bitterness and hatred. We can all drink freely from the cup of liberty because we are all called to be free!

The words of Jesus are: "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." (John 7:37-38)

We no longer have to live as slaves to our desires but can have true and lasting liberty.

My friends, we are called to be free!

Well, theologian is giving her a little too much credit but I have been a BIG fan of hers since she released Jagged Little Pill all those years ago. She has been exploring spirituality for a long time and is on a journey to find God in her life and I can connect with a lot of her searching.

On the train this morning I decided to listen to one of her later albums called Under Rug Swept. The second last song on that is Surrendering and as I was listening to it I heard a love song between God and myself. Now I am crazy, but discounting that, it was wonderful to hear a duet between God and myself emerge from the lyrics. I officially repeated the song 9 times on the way to work and just revelled in it.

I've reprinted the lyrics below for you to read but you really need to listen to the song to get the full effect. Two pieces particularly that stand out for me are:

   You were taken with me to a point 
   A case of careful what you wish for 
   But what you knew was enough to begin

   And so you called and courted fiercely 
   So you reached out, entirely fearless 
   And yet you knew of reservation and how it serves

Which describes the first steps I took in my relationship with God, cautious and careful, not wanting to be fully exposed or hurt. But he called me and courted me fiercely, not letting my fear stand in the way. He built a relationship with me and showed that he was trustworthy and that I could surrender myself to him without fear.

It's not uncommon for God to speak to me through music in this way. I've always felt that the whole "Christian music" scene divorces Christian culture from the mainstream in an unhelpful way. I believe that there would be a tone of music on God's iPod that comes from the mainstream and quite a bit he would exclude from the Christian stream.

I believe that we need to go through a process of redeeming music, supporting and holding up music that examines life honestly and not box it as unhelpful just because a Christian didn't write it.

Here's the lyrics...

You were full and fully capable
You were self sufficient and needless
Your house was fully decorated in that sense

You were taken with me to a point
A case of careful what you wish for
But what you knew was enough to begin

And so you called and courted fiercely
So you reached out, entirely fearless
And yet you knew of reservation and how it serves

And I salute you for your courage
And I applaud your perseverance
And I embrace you for your faith in the face of adversarial forces
That I represent

So you were in but not entirely
You were up for this but not totally
You knew how arms length-ing can maintain doubt

And so you fell and you're intact
So you dove in and you're still breathing
And So you jumped and you're still flying if not shocked
And I support you in your trusting
And I commend you for your wisdom
And I'm amazed by your surrender in the face of threatening forces
That I represent

You found creative ways to distance
You hid away from much through humor
Your choice of armor was your intellect

And so you felt and you're still here
And so you died and you're still standing
And so you softened and still safely in command

And I salute you for your courage
And I applaud your perseverance
And I embrace you for your faith in the face of adversarial forces
That I represent

Self protection was in times of true danger
Your best defense to mistrust and be wary
Surrendering a feat of unequaled measure
And I'm thrilled to let you in
Overjoyed to be let in in kind

I salute you for your courage
And I commend you for your wisdom
And I embrace you for your faith in the face of adversarial forces
And I support you in your trusting
And I applaud your perseverance
And I'm amazed by your surrender in the face of threatening forces
That I represent

Source