Matt's External Brain
Music For The Christmas Season
Wednesday, November 8th, 2006As a worship leader (lead worshiper, music leader, whatever) for our church, the coming advent season is always an enigma to me. The following is an article I wrote over at RockWorship.com, reposted here for your benefit.
What in the world is a modern-rock / alternative service style church supposed to do around the Christmas […]
Baby Mash-ups
Tuesday, November 7th, 2006Today I caught myself singing the “eeny-meeny-miny-moe” rhyme to the tune of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” in a baby voice while changing Elena’s diaper.
I am the mashup king!
By way of providing way too much information, here is the original poem from which twinkle twinkle, the nursery rhyme is taken from: The Star by Ann […]
Mr. Haggard Speaks
Monday, November 6th, 2006Ted Haggard was a liar and a deceiver. He is also currently one of the more humble men I am aware of. He released a moving apology letter to his congregation that you should read if you’ve thought about this situation at all. His wife also wrote a doubly moving letter to […]
Origins of Halloween
Wednesday, November 1st, 2006I must say (unofficially) that Halloween has always been and remains to this day, one of my favorite holidays. Dressing up in fun costumes and gathering mountains of candy. What could be better.
Many Christians, for issues of conscience, choose not to participate, or others, for other issues, openly rave against it. There […]
Kathy Hanson On Biblical Literalism
Saturday, October 14th, 2006Kathy has a great post on the “God Is Still Speaking” campaign, which touches on what I was talking about a few posts ago with biblical literalism. It is well worth the read. Quick quote:
No Christian–even the most fundamentalist believer–really takes the Bible literally. Language isn’t that simplistic.
Check it out.
Bush’s Own Church Calls For Pulling Troops Out Of Iraq
Tuesday, September 26th, 2006United Methodist Church leaders helped launch a week of protest and civil disobedience against the war in Iraq by signing a declaration of peace urging President Bush to pull U.S. troops out of the country.
This brings up an interesting question of where Church authority and governmental authority mix.
However, trying to look at this declaration from […]
The Practice of the Presence of God: Prayer
Friday, September 22nd, 2006Brother Lawrence, a Carmelite lay monk from the 1600s on prayer:
“I do not advise you to use multiplicity of words in prayer. Many words and long discourses are often the occasions of wandering. Hold yourself in prayer before God, like a dumb or paralytic beggar at a rich man’s gate. […]
The Love Of God, or, Why I Hate MySpace Ads
Tuesday, September 12th, 2006(The following is an excerpt from my journal. I sat down to attempt to write a poem reflecting on 1 Corinthians 13 and 1 John 4. This is what came out instead. I have editted out some of the more potentially inflamatory stuff. I’m not entirely certain why I’m posting this…)
Love.
Love […]
On Being A Director Of Worship Arts
Wednesday, August 16th, 2006…which I’m not, but my responsibilities with The Rock and Stonebrook border closely on that title.
Travis Swan’s (worship leader at The Rock, Ft. Collins) dad sent him an E-mail which he then forwarded to me. I was moved by it in the “someone finally understands me” sense. I’m posting it here, with his […]
The Wisdom of Calvin
Saturday, August 12th, 2006Sometimes I’m pretty sure this is how I operate.
And Now I’m Disappointed with Focus On The Family
Thursday, August 10th, 2006Over the last year, X3Church has become one of my favorite national ministries. One whose heart, mission, and methods, I support wholeheartedly. We are hoping to have them come speak at The Rock this next Spring.
Focus On The Family has, for years, been a cornerstone resource for American Christianity. Providing support in […]
Strange Car Dealership Offer
Friday, July 21st, 2006I overheard the following on the radio while driving to HyVee today. What is wrong with this ad?
All you need in order to purchase a car is a job and $199, PLUS get UP TO $4000 MINIMUM for any old trade in!
(later in the “fine print”…) […]
To Coach Kennedy
Wednesday, July 12th, 2006Yesterday, a great light went out in the world.
My high school (assistant) football coach (who would later become head coach), fellow member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, and all around All-Star human being; died of cancer at age 50. It was a long fought battle, and he was around longer than most expected, but […]
I Like To Ride My Bicycle
Monday, July 3rd, 2006Last year I picked up a bike at a garage sale for $15. It’s a bit too short for me, and the tires are always a little low on air (it’s a cheap target brand bike), but it’s a lot of fun to ride. I’ve been riding it around a bit more here […]
Professionalism
Sunday, June 25th, 2006A quote from a book about church music and those who create it, but I think it applies to any area of art/work/trade. Thought I’d share…
“…the difference between an amateur and a professional is that a professional never stops learning. If by a professional [song writer] we mean one who takes […]
Reflecting on Psalm 55: Betrayal
Saturday, June 24th, 2006update: Not exactly coincidentally, Tim Borseth gave a message on Psalm 55 at Stonebrook Community Church. Check it out.
(At Stonebrook Community Church, we have been doing a series on The Psalms. Last week I posted a reflection on Psalm 137, and “Spiritual Exhaling” at RockWorship.com. This article is a continuation on that […]
Reflecting on Psalm 137: The Power of Lament
Saturday, June 24th, 2006Brad Barret let me speak with him last Sunday at Stonebrook Community Church on Psalms of Lament.
You can listen to the message here.
I posted the notes from my portion of this message over at Rockworship.com.
Garage Band Isn’t For Sermons
Saturday, June 24th, 2006Pat Sokoll gave an amazing, stirring, and challenging… challenge… to the Rock leaders last tuesday.
An hour before it was supposed to start, I was charged with figuring out how to record it. So I gathered my laptop, Firepod, and the Rock’s Shure wireless lapel mic, thinking I would be just fine. I’d plug […]
Daydreaming About Swords
Thursday, June 22nd, 2006I daydream a lot.
One recurrent daydream is about is what it would like be if there were still a warrior class in our culture. A class that was charged with the duty of protecting the society, enforcing justice, guarding, defending, etc. It is a class that existed for thousands of years in nearly […]
Matt’s Lo-Fi Faith
Thursday, May 18th, 2006It’s meme time again!
Tagged by Yannick.
1: List three (3) words that describe your faith.
True Tenacious Imperfect (doesn’t that seem inconsistent with true?)
2: Describe a belief you are certain about and one with which you struggle.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and Earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord.
I struggle with […]
