Josh Garrels, Jacaranda Tree.

Sitting on porches

Since Friday while the sky

Tilts like a watery glass

We wait for downpours

A drenching joy

A carnival sky

But what I don’t say

What I can’t say

Is that with this joy

Comes a mourning

Something left behind

Blue lined, teary

Mingled

I move on

All things will change

We wait for the rain

And the promise remains

Live life fully

Peeking through fingers

Slung in our hammocks

Cocooned

Skimming the water

Trapezed above time

We glide like slingshot angels

Belly up and

Floating we see

The promise in the sky

Up to Orion’s ribs

We climb this tree

And listen

For our pulse

All things will change

We wait for the rain

And the promise remains

I flung loosely

Into that world

I stayed heavily

I’ll be a Jacaranda Tree

In Indiana

I say

Greenhoused and sung to

I pray light will

Leak from out pockets

We’ll be drenched, overcome

At night the fireflies

Streamers at our sides

Silent flaming arcs of hope

All things will change

We wait for the rain

And the promise remains

This gorgeous song was written by Michelle Garrels and performed by her husband, Josh Garrels. Josh's music has had such a profound influence on my songwriting and composition. There is something so pure about his voice and instrumentation; it's organic and earthy. "Jacaranda Tree" is a cut from his newest album, "Jacaranda," and has quickly become one of my favorite songs, ever. I pulled these lyrics from his blog and the thing that moves me is how it reads like poetry. I can't speak highly enough about Josh Garrels' other songs and albums. How this beautiful praise found its way into my hands is beyond me - but it truly is a blessing.

MP3: Josh Garrels - Jacaranda Tree

Captive/Captivated.

I was thinking about this the other day. It's strange that only three letters can change the meaning of a word. Captive and captivated: two words structurally similar but fairly polar. Captive, according to the American Heritage Dictionary, means "One, such as a prisoner of war, who is forcibly confined, subjugated, or enslaved." Yet captivated is defined as "attracted and held by charm, beauty, or excellence." I, myself, am captivated by God, but not a captive of God.

This is the first picture that came up after searching Google Images for "captive." Although I'm not aware of the situation, to see blank, perilous faces on these children is frightening.

And this is what appeared after the "captivating" search. This young girl is entranced by the beauty of this sunset. And who wouldn't be? There is a sense of peace in this scene.

I challenge everyone to think of what keeps you captive and what captivates you. Personally, I am held captive by my sins and my insecurities. I feel like that's a very common attitude, and as a son or daughter of God, it shouldn't be. The Lord captivated me with nature and music. There are an infinite amount of opinions. Know which one is yours!

50.

Stumbled across this old tune that I wrote for my mom for her 50th birthday party. I was/am torn between two titles, "50" and "The Blink." Not sure whether I'll record it.

Age, it's just a distraction

Well, what is your passion?

Pursue without fear

And rage, why does it come easy?

Do you see what I see

when you look in the mirror?

Well, some run away when they're 50

Just scared that it's true

You could run away, yeah, you're 50

But that's not like you

I doubt, you didn't want to stay young

But I'm here as your son

Who can't picture life

Without your warmth and your patience

And yours saw the changes

To a mother and wife

Well, some run away when they're 50

Just scared that it's true

You could run away, yeah, you're 50

But that's not like you

As human's we pretend and disagree

But life on earth is just a blink of eternity

Well, some run away when they're 50

Just scared that it's true

You could run away, yeah, you're 50

But that's not like you

Don't blink 'cause the world moves too fast

A calculator blow to the head.

I'm never less than dazzled by Andrew Bird's work. "The Mysterious Production of Eggs" was one of 2005's best, and last year's "Armchair Apocrypha" was another stunner. Combine Bird's infectious whistling with his intricate violin skill and you've got some of the most catchy folk/pop music on the market today. His sprawling discography is so well-rounded that I'm starting to wonder whether he will ever put out a bad record (he and his "Bowl of Fire" never did). And it seems that "Noble Beast," which will hit shelves January 09 will be no exception. I, for one, can't wait. 

The first track, Oh No, is classic Bird; a little more rhythmic this time around. Pitchfork's Forkcast is currently streaming the song HERE.

Home.

Fall break: After two months at Belmont, I've finally come home for a weekend. I was telling everyone before I left, "I'm not quite homesick, but I do miss home." Which is true.

But I've only been here for a couple hours and I'm already telling myself, "I missed the people, not the place." I was absolutely ecstatic to see my family, including both my dog and mom rushing out the garage door, and my sister who wouldn't admit that she really did miss me. I had a good long talk with my mom and dad about politics and my reignited faith at college, yet I realized that because I can better see God in my life, and can better see the places at home that hold bad memories. It frightens me that I can pinpoint exactly where I've sinned.

After a conversation with God, I know what needs to be done. I need to go to these places and put these evils to rest. I want to cast these sins away and progress in my faith, not regress. My past is important to me, but I can't live to my fullest if I don't lay my burdens down. It sounds a bit selfish, but if certain events continue to haunt someone for years after they occurred, peace needs to be made.

This break should be a break for me. I really want to enjoy myself while I'm here. Visit my friends and former teachers, stop at all my favorite records stores, catch up on some sleep, do some homework (gasp!). Father, my intentions are real, and I will submit myself to You.

Barefoot.

The other day, I asked my friend Winston, a songwriting major here, how he goes about writing a song. The brains behind Night Beds, he's written and recorded some pretty impressive tunes (although he won't admit it) and will be releasing them on iTunes within the year. Anyway, he described to me an exercise that he practiced in one of his classes: to think of an idea, place, person, or thing, and write everything you know about it. In his words, "vomit" on the page. And so "Barefoot" was born.

The story behind this: On campus, we have what we call "The Quad," an attractive area of grass and trees situated right in the middle of everything. My friends and I occasionally throw a frisbee or dribble a soccer ball in between classes, and every time I head out there, I kick off my shoes and enjoy what's beneath me (admittedly, this is destroying my feet). But it seems like when I lose my shoes, I lose my stress. The "cliff" bit in the song refers to an actual set of cliff at a nearby lake that Kern showed me to. Jumping off those things is so liberating. My surroundings: the trees, the water, the rocks, are so beautiful, and I really thank God for the nature that He's given us; it's always a retreat for me.

So here's what I "vomited" this evening :-)

Bare, I stand barefoot

The sand and rock and earth between my toes

And there, from where I look

God's wonderful creation lives and grows

Sometimes you gotta strip yourself

Of shoes and futures, worries, wealth

And smell the smell of green here in the air

'Cause what's the thrill in life concrete

Just shed the shield right off your feet

And jump off of a cliff with body bare!

MP3: Night Beds - There Was Enough/Rest

A friendship.

Big update.

So I've been at Belmont for a little over a month now and, truly, I've never felt closer to God. It's pretty amazing how environment can influence your faith. In particular, my resident assistant, Kern, has been such a blessing to me. Not only has he helped me ease into college life, but he invited me to a church called Lifehouse, and the service really shook me. The music, the worship... it was so powerful and joyful. At this point, I am talking out loud to God and I'm proud to call my relationship with Him a friendship.

So amongst all these influences, I've been writing like crazy. I've finished one, and I'm almost finished with two other pieces. This song here is called God in a Box. I was talking about the routine of worship with Kern, and he told me one of his friends said this: "Wouldn't it be great if we didn't try to put God in a Box?" This really stuck with me. And as I reflected on my own experiences, I realized that throughout my youth, I had done just that. As a "Sunday Christian," I was praying to God in a box and not outside of it. So this piece is somewhat biographical, but I think it applies to a lot of people.

"God in a Box"

He said, “I wanna put God, I wanna put our God in a box.

So I can praise Him on Sunday then dry myself out in the week.”

He said, “I wanna put God, I wanna put our God in a box.

And let the preacher pray for me so that I don’t ever have to speak.”

He said, “I wanna put God, I wanna put our God in a box.

So I can tell the world I love Him just to get a load of guilt off my chest.”

He said, “I wanna put God, I wanna put our God in a box.

Then I can take and take and take and take and take whenever fits best.”

But our Lord cannot be contained

Cannot be contained

In separate parts

Oh, our Lord has always remained

Will always remain

In our hearts

He said, “I wanna hold God, I wanna hold our God under locks.

So I can put Him on a pedestal and advertise the wealth that I’ve gained.”

But wouldn’t it be great, if we didn’t keep our God in a box?

Because I’ve felt Him working through me, and His presence cannot be contained!

Yes, our Lord cannot be contained

Cannot be contained

In separate parts

And our Lord has always remained

Will always remain

In our hearts

So, you can listen to the void

And ignore the sound of God when He knocks.

And you can try to tie Him down

You can try to measure love by the clocks.

But our Lord cannot be contained

We cannot put our God in a box.