Lent, Again

Seven hours out from my church's Ash Wednesday service, I could almost say that once again, Lent has snuck up on me, necessitating another 40 day period sans sweets. This time, however, it feels different. I find in this season a sort of desperation. This is not about asceticism, which is good, because asceticism is useless for spiritual growth. Rather, this is about life and death discipleship. This is about taking the war to the enemy's door. I have met the enemy, and he is me.

I find myself learning lessons about my heart these days, painful lessons that show me just how bad it is. It's a painful thing to realize that I've systematically and systemically patted myself on the back for supposed righteousness, excusing and justifying a pride more layered than a delicious tiramisu. I read Herbert's "Lent," per my tradition, today, and I was surprised to find I wasn't just encouraged - I was convicted.

It's true, we cannot reach Christ's forti'th day;
Yet to go part of that religious way,
      Is better than to rest:
We cannot reach our Saviour's purity;
Yet are we bid, Be holy ev'n as he.
      In both, let's do our best.

Coming Soon to a YA Book Section Near You

While placing a delicious dish in the oven - well, it was tater tots, albeit Trader Joe's ones - I noticed that one of my roommate's baking stones was broken and a large piece of it was laying in the back of the oven. I thought, man, that shard must be flaming hot. (I had already preheated the oven.) I then realized that The Flaming Shard is the perfect title for a "paranormal romance" "book."

On second thought, maybe it should be a "saga." It could be set in a high school. Or a boarding school. Possibly in Oregon or British Columbia.  I think the flaming shard itself will be some powerful thing that some evil vampires want to get. Maybe they're fighting werewolves. Why don't orcs go to school? I digress.

Book one of The Flaming Shard will be The Dazzling Eyes. Book two will be The Perfect Hair. Book three will conclude the saga with The Burning Heart. As to further plot details, who needs that?!?

I'll let you know when the book signing at Borders is. First step: find a Borders.

The Crushing Burden of Profundity

Another year has gone by, and yet again, I find that this blog has gathered cobwebs. It's not like I haven't had any grist for the proverbial mill, either. I wrote my last post on April 12, 2011. Seven days later, I went on a blind date that went rather well. Seven months to the day after that, I asked her to marry me. She said yes! And now, Lord willing, on June 3 of this year, Miss Katherine Elizabeth Cannava will become my wife.

So yes, lots of grist for the mill.

I could fill long posts with what I've learned about myself,  God, and the world over these past nine months. I could tell of things that have been done, good times that have been had, and ch-ch-changes that have occurred. I haven't written anything though. Time has certainly played a part in this. These past nine months have been, in a word, busy. (Two words: extremely busy.) Regardless, I think I know why I haven't written anything.

I have found myself crushed beneath the burden of profundity. It wasn't enough to think out loud, really. I wanted to think complete thoughts. I wanted to be right. I wanted to argue my position clearly and cogently.  Now, I realize that anything is better than nothing. I want to explore and think and grow. I want to write again.

I do realize that this has all the sincerity of a Krusty the Klown Comeback Special. I don't care. I'm back. Again.

The Life of the World to Come

Since ancient times, believers have summarized God's revelation about our present and future hope with the words of the Nicene Creed: "we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come."  I love that phrase - "the life of the world to come." It's a very pregnant phrase and beyond that, the pregnancy metaphor works well here.  The expectant mother carries the baby inside of her; it grows inside her.  She feels a close bond to her baby - she yearns for it to come.  She wonders what the baby will look like.  Will he have his father's eyes?  Will she have that dimple that grandma had, that mommy has?  (The possibilities are seemingly endless.)

Waiting. Longing. Wondering. Certainty. Anxiety. Hope.

All these things are an apt description of the expectant mother as she looks for the arrival of her baby.  Likewise, we, the church-community, look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.  It is coming, but we don't know when.  It will be here, one day.  Until that day, we are gripped with labor pains.

Six months ago today, my mother passed from this life to the next.  Today, I can't help but think about the great hope and great joy of the life of the world to come.  My mind is boggled by the thought of heaven. Paul tells the Ephesians that God can do more than all we ask or think. Han Solo spoke for me, when he said: "I can imagine an awful lot."  Consequently, I find myself in the tension of expectation, and now more than ever, I find myself looking farther ahead than my shallow contemplation does. Come Lord Jesus! "Oh come, oh come Emmanuel."

His Royal Flyness

The day that Michael Jackson died, I experienced an epochal moment in my musical pilgrimage: I experienced live electro-dance music (EDM) for the first time.

Earlier in that day, I was on Facebook when I noticed that a friend who worked at 4th Street Live! [sic] - Louisville's lame attempt at having a club district - had posted a photo of a giant boom box.  It was the backdrop to a stage and that night, they were going to have a free concert.  The artist was one with which I was familiar, as my indie scourings of the intertubes were fueled by a passion to find new (and unheard of!)  music.  Beyond that, it was the summer of '69 (plus 40), and the mild temperatures only made for a perfect scenario to roll down the windows and blast electro pop.  Thus, when I discovered that MSTRKRFT were putting on a free show, I knew that I had to be there.

MSTRKRFT (the Web 2.0 spelling of mastercraft) put on a bangin' performance.  Beyond having a good time with friends (shout out to the BGGs), I came to a conclusion based on both MSTRKRFT and their opening DJ (who kept asking us to throw up peace-signs to give the King a "peace out"): white men with MacBooks were the future of sexy music.

Almost two years later, my enjoyment of EDM has only grown and we've moved from throwing dance parties with iTunes playlists to dance parties where we mix the tracks with professional grade programs.  I've taken the moniker of "His Royal Flyness," primarily because it was the most audaciously ludicrous name I could create.  Beyond the boom of bass or the whine of synths, there's something about very freeing about dancing with modest abandon.  I truly believe that that same something can be in perfect keeping with a God who gives humans wine to gladden their hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread to strengthen their hearts (Psalm 104:15) the same God who richly gives us all things to enjoy (1 Tim. 6:16).  As a believer in Jesus, my joy in him permeates these things and gives them an even better and fuller pleasure.

I'll see you at our next dance party.

Spring Cleaning

The first step to getting my blog back up and running: publishing all the comments that were awaiting moderation. From five years ago.

Live! From the Holy of Holies

I am writing this brief post from inside the Apple Store, Oxmoor Mall, Louisville, Kentucky, year of our Lord, Steve Jobs, 2011.  I have stood in line with a friend, who shall be nameless but not linkless, as he waited to enter the Holy of Holies (the aforementioned Apple Store) to buy the iPad 2.  We got here at 3:15, I left for a meeting at 3:50, returned at 5:30, and now it is 7:00 pm and after hours in line, he is paying for his iPad.  It truly is a marvelous toy er, tool, and I know he will put it to good use.

I was struck that many of my line-mates had bought the first iPad, just over a year ago, and now, they were back for more. By the time we were 30 minutes from the door, though, we found out that they were out of the AT&T 3G models, and dejected, they left.  As my friend was here for the bare-bones model, we kept waiting, with hope and expectancy.  Soon, we came to Temple Gates, and the Levite, Jason Spencer, made small talk with us.  We realized that if we had brought him a latte from Quills, we might have been able to bribe him.  However, the latte would have been very cold by now, so it's just as well.

I love my Apple products quite a bit, but it truly is remarkable to see this many people wait to dutifully fork over this much money for an attempt at happiness.  However the Apostle of God, Steve Jobs (peace and blessings of God be upon him), has promised us that this "magic" can be ours for a starting price of $499.  Allah ackbar!

It's funny how good things become God things so greatly. God tells us to subdue the earth, and we have truly made some fantastic machines.  However, we've also made some amazing idols as well.  Wisdom dictates that we use them in an open hand.

That said, I want an iPad 2 for my birthday.

Predicting the GRAMMYs, 2011

For as long as I can remember, I have loved the Grammys.  I distinctly remember Riverdance (with Michael Flatly) and the cast of "Bring in the Noise/Bring in the Funk" doing this crazy dance off thing.  I was hooked.  And then, a few years later, the love of my high school life - Rebecca St. James - one the Best Rock Gospel Album Grammy for her 1999 release, Pray. She was slightly overshadowed by Santana and Rob Thomas that year.  But it's okay, because they're so smooth.

Over the years that would follow, I would watch the Grammy's award the deserving (like the O Brother Where Art Thou? Original Soundtrack or Speakerboxx/The Love Below) and the undeserving (most every other album).  My math is pretty simple: 1/3 of the Grammy winners deserve their award, 1/3 of the Grammy winners would have deserved their award 20 years ago, and 1/3 of the Grammy winners will never, ever deserve their award, not even in a parallel universe (see Swift, Taylor).

That said, I can't resist and try to predict who will when the "Big 4": Album of the Year, Record of the Year (i.e., the best individual song), Song of the Year (a songwriter's reward), and Best New Artist. Only one person in history has won all four of them on the same night.  (Do you know who? I bet you don't. Click here for their Wikipedia page.)

Anyway, here are the nominees for the Big 4:

Record of the Year

• "Nothin' on You," B.o.B feat. Bruno Mars
• "Love the Way You Lie," Eminem feat. Rhianna
• "F*** You," Cee Lo Green
• "Empire State of Mind," Jaz-Z feat. Alicia Keys
• "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum
• Who Will Win: "Empire State of Mind." Jay's love song to NYC is beautiful as it is soulful. It moves your heart, even as Alicia makes your heart flutter.
• Who Should Win: See above. This is a great, deserving song.

Album of the Year

• The Suburbs, Arcade Fire
• Recovery, Eminem
• The Fame Monster, Lady Gaga
• Need You Now, Lady Antebellum
• Teenage Dream, Katy Perry
• Who Will Win: The Fame Monster. Gaga's rise to the top has been a mixture of talent and populism, but her high profile attire and antics, not to mention her catchy tunes, will net her the golden gramophone. 
• Who Should Win: The Suburbs. Arcade Fire's newest album is incredible, moving, and deep.  It takes the best of classic/alt rock and refashions it into a commentary and diary of suburban life, the same life in which such classic rock was largely consumed.  It was a shock Billboard #1, proof that quality music can sell. Nevertheless, like Radiohead's attempt with In Rainbows, this masterpiece will be snubbed.

Song of the Year

• "Beg, Steal, or Borrow" (Ray LaMontagne)
• "F*** You" (Cee Lo Green)
• "The House that Built Me" (Miranda Lambert)
• "Love the Way You Lie" (Eminem feat. Rihanna)
• "Need You Now" (Lady Antebellum)
• Who Will Win: "F*** You"- Between YouTube and Glee, this song is everywhere, but the buzz-worthiness of this meme disguises the fact that at its core, it's a wonderfully written song.
• Who Should Win: "F*** You" - Did I mention how fun this song is?

Best New Artist

• Justin Bieber
• Florence and the Machine
• Mumford & the Sons
• Esperanza Spalding
• Mumford & Sons
• Who Will Win: Bieber freakin' fever, gang. This year, it belongs to Justin.  It's almost ludicrous to think that he's a "new artist." He's a phenomenon.
• Who Should Win: The Bieb. Justin is Grade A Pop, and besides from being a Tiger Beat staple, he's cranked out some quality tunes.

Well, that's all from me. Tune in tonight to watch banal music be honored, and hopefully, just hopefully, the tunes I selected above, too. :)