National Geographic on Arab Christians (and my 10 yr anniversary of friendships with a group of them)

link to pictures

The stories in this enlightening article about Arab Christians are the stories of my friends. I have mentioned it before on this blog and talked ad naseum about the plight of Arab Christians. This is mostly due to friendships gathered during the past decade (actually this weekend marks the 10^th Anniversary of an invite as speaker at Boston’s Arab Baptist Conference). What started with my assumptions about Arab Christians quickly became a lesson in how pointless assumptions are. I actually thought I was going to be with a group of extremely modest dressers in hijabs or burkas that would be offended by what I might say (kind of a combo of Muslims and Independent Baptist). This was nothing like what I encountered, the most hospitable, hip, well dressed and financed group of friends that kept us out too late and made fun of each other unmercifully (and made fun of me for being extremely white). In other words… my kind of people.

These Arab Christians shared their stories, invited us into their lives and homes, supported my ministry, attended our church in Boston and kept bringing me back to speak at their events. Of all the people my wife and I have met along our journey together as partners, Christians and ministers, this group of friends is close to the top.

Most of all they enlightened me, one that thought everyone from the Middle East was Jewish or Muslim. Although I had a Lebanese Christian Seminary professor and took classes on the area and its religions, I still had assumptions until I heard the stories; stories of people caught between Islam and Judaism and in the nether regions of a US foreign policy supported by American Christians which has ravaged Arab Christian numbers in the Middle East, a group of people feeling animosity at times for the support America and American Christians have for Israel and justified anger towards Israel's policies (the policies we support are often at the expense of Christians who have been lumped in with Muslims and find themselves aligning with them on many occasions). In fact, this American Christian unconditional support for anything done by Israel has hurt our own brothers and sisters, which is directly in conflict with the call of Jesus in Matthew 25 to care for our brothers and sisters in prison, without food and clothes. Ironic, huh?

I have heard the stories of a teenager from Gaza which was the hardest counseling session I have ever encountered (how do you counsel someone that fears bombings, is surrounded by another religion and wants desperately to leave her country for safety, when you have benefited from America’s luck?), sat on a train with a podiatrist from Lebanon as he told us of the day he returned to his home which had been bombed before fleeing to America or the mother of friends from Palestine who never had citizenship, rights or a passport in her own country, I have a Christian friend with the unfortunate name Jihad (he goes by Ji) and friends from Egypt that have been accused of being terrorists on many occasions, even though one worked for an American defense manufacturer.

These are the stories of Arab Christians many of whom are from the Levant (Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Israel and Lebanon), where Christianity was founded and flourished for centuries. Now Christians make up about 8% of the population (down from 25% a century ago), mostly in Lebanon and have all but left places like the area surrounding Damascus. They have left because of violence, oppression and pressure, not just from Muslims, but from Israelis and America’s foreign policy which at times put them in danger (see the plight of Iraqi Christians since our invasion).

I am grateful to National Geographic for giving their stories to us. I hope we remember them as we look at the Middle East and our Arab neighbors in America.

link to article

hat tip to Derek via David Dark.

Music I am digging

Bonnie "Prince" Billy's latest gem is called Beware and my is favorite thing he has recorded in quite a while. If you are wondering where the good old Outlaw Country of Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson went, look no farther. A miner of American traditional music, Billy's latest captures the essense of a form of music lost in the glimmer and sheen of Nashville.

Thank the Lord for the Prince.

Listen here.

Oklahoma's Other Lives' self titled album is only $5.00 on Amazon and a gorgeous piece of piano driven classically oriented chamber pop. It is for fans of Radiohead's mellow stuff, as well as Sigur Ros. If you like minor chords and melancholy music (a theme this year) you will like this.

Listen here.

Expose in St Pete Times on Scientology

Did you catch these articles from the best newspaper in Florida, and one of the best in America, The St. Pete Times regarding the cracks in the armor of Scientology. It is an illuminating set of articles. I wager that it will be nominated for a Pulitzer, if I were a betting man.

Here is the link to the entire series. It is worth reading in its entirety if you have a chance.

Link

Also, here is commentary by The Daily Beast.

Best of 2009 so far, Elvis Perkins in Dearland

In case you had no idea, I am a huge fan of Elvis Perkins, named by his father, Anthony Perkins, star of Psycho, for Elvis Aaron Presley. Perkins, whose first album was an extraordinary but singular sounding effort, is no longer a solo artist. Instead, in the tradition of Bruce Springsteen and Ben Harper he has taken to recording and touring with a full band. I liked him as a primarily acoustic artist because even as a solo-folky, there was something different about Perkins that separated him from your typical singer songwriter. It could have been his poetic lyrics (he is gifted at the pithy couplet). An example from his first album, Ash Wednesday is "and I've made a death suit for life, for my father's ill widowed wife " from the song While You Were Sleeping. But this album is as good, maybe better than album #1, just very different.

Whereas Ash Wednesday was an album of mournful songs about the losses of his parents, this album is a raucous party (albeit primarily acoustic), still dealing with the death of his mom (Sept. 11), but with an eye towards heaven or whatever he believes in. Morose, maudlin or in need of mild anti-depressives could be descriptors for Ash Wednesday and none of these apply to Dearland. It is dark, but positive, like a good Tim Burton flick.

Judging from the lyrics, it is still Perkins' vision, even though a band is involved. Highlights include 123 Goodbye with the devastating line "I love you more in death than I ever could in life" and Doomsday, the singer songwriter's 1999 with this ditty "And even though you voted that awful man, I'll never refuse your hand on any given doomsday," along with the first single Shampoo.

For the life of my, I cannot understand why Perkins is not huge. Buy this album and his last and judge for yourself.

listen here.

and the New Orleans dance party about the end of the world...

Best of 2009 so far, Dirty Projectors

Bitte Orca by Dirty Projectors, another highlight of 2009, so far

I have an admission. I really did not want to like this album. I have never bought into the hype surrounding Dirty Projectors and figured I could resist once more. I mean, it has worked with Animal Collective, why not Dirty Projectors? I figure this is one more example of people buying into the hype and going gaga over something needlessly weird, with no point to its weirdness (I love weirdness, but want to see a point). DP's past albums could be exercises in futile digging through a barely listenable album for gems- much like a Mission Impossible flick only with a more inaccessible plot.

Then I listened to Bitte Orca. It sounded pretty cool. Then I listened again... and again. It was strange, but Stravinsky or OK Computer strange, not Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music strange. I knew the leader considered himself a composer and the band was his orchestra. But, this is well beyond chamber pop, a genre I love but feel is limited.

I was hearing Beyonce. I was hearing David Byrne and the Talking Heads. There was a little jazz and a lot of doo-wop. Of course, I expected the Beck and Bjork, But, I was hearing Mariah Carey and John Lennon... often in the same song. What the heck?

Here is the most bizarre thing about this wondrously strange album. It works. Totally. In spades. It is inventive, but keeps itself grounded in traditional structure of pop music (I feel this is important and disciplined). It is unlike anything else out there, but strangely and warmly familiar. Best of all, it is fun. The first time you hear it, you may not like it. Keep listening.

I would not be surpised if this is my #1 album of the year. I cannot see it dropping out of the Top 3.

Start here.

Listen here.

Buy it here.

best so far in 2009, The Low Anthem

I am still soaking in the radiant goodness of this album, so my thoughts are less cohesive than they are for the other top albums of 2009 (so far). Since I hate the Immediestas,* I don't like to comment too early on an album, allowing time for it to sink in and the layers to become evident. That said I can already tell this is a special album, the one that people will be comparing to Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver, last year's It, blog buzz bands.

The Low Anthem's Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, originally released last year and now remastered for wider audience, fits firmly in the early 70's Americana world of Fleet Foxes, Iron and Wine and Blind Pilot bowing at the alter of Nick Drake. Unlike Fleet Foxes, this is not an album of precious pastoral hymns to a spring meadow someplace. It is a bit darker and more haunting, especially on the opening cut, Charlie Darwin, a hymn to disbelief. Something else that separates this band from the others mentioned is the fact that they are unafraid to turn on the amps and rock every once in a while (thank God. I am so sick of earnest folk music, even by those I like, lacking any testosterone).

This has the potential to be the top album of 2009. I need to listen a bit more before deciding. However, it is already something I can strongly recommend as one of the best things I have heard this year.

Listen/ Watch here and don't take my word for it. Decide for yourself (this album needs less salesmanship from me than the other top albums of the year, so far).

Buy the album here.

I love the lyrics of the song Charlie Darwin

Set the sails I feel the winds a'stirring
Toward the bright horizon set the way
Cast your wreckless dreams upon our Mayflower
Haven from the world and her decay

And who could heed the words of Charlie Darwin
Fighting for a system built to fail
Spooning water from their broken vessels
As far as I can see there is no land

Oh my god, the water's all around us
Oh my god, it's all around

And who could heed the words of Charlie Darwin
The lords of war just profit from decay
And trade their children's promise for the jingle
The way we trade our hard earned time for pay

Oh my god, the water's cold and shapeless
Oh my god, it's all around
Oh my god, life is cold and formless
Oh my god, it's all around

I hope you think they are as beautiful as I do.

* my own word- meaning those bloggers that demand we judge or report on anything quickly- just so they can be first to a source and ruin nuance (see Pitchfork, Iran and Ain't It Cool News)

Best of 2009 so far, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson

Those that are obsessed with details will note that the debut album by the man with the longest name in music, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson (as 1 that has given my kids multiple middle names, I can truly appreciate this desire to keep them all even if Miles Robinson is a good name) was officially released in 2008 (pitchfork did review it).

But, no one talked about it or heard of it then. Due to this detail, I may not put this album on my year end list. However, it is one of the 3 or 4 best albums I have heard this year. In a twitter review, I said, "imagine Bon Iver beaten up by TV on the Radio with a distortion pedal," which could be a bit obtuse, even if meant to be complimentary.

Robinson stands firmly in the lowfi vocal spookiness of Bon Iver with touches of Bright Eyes or Arcade Fire. However, instead of heading to the darkness of a Wisconsin cabin for his inspiration, he heads to the clubs of New York City and instills in his meandering folksiness a sense of Beck-like funkiness and a love for distortion and feedback (it is impossible in my eyes to have too much distortion). Guests on the album include members of Grizzley Bear and TV on the Radio and the influence is obvious.

There is an edge to this album that is hard to describe. It sounds at times as if a folk singer got a lot of gear and decided to see what could happen. The wheels almost come off a few times and it sounds like it is careening off a cliff, only to put the brakes on at the last minute before the whole thing falls apart. I love it when that happens in music. It sounds dangerous and punky, but clearly residing in the singer-songwriter tradition.

Lyrically the albums falls into the typical confessional songwriter genre, with a bit more colorful language and experience. Considering the amount of drugs in this guy's past and his nights spent living on the street, one would expect as much from the words. It is definitely worth listening to more than once (like The Antlers, this one grows on you).

Listen here.

Buy the mp3 here.

there seems to be something wrong with the links. just enter Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson into myspace and you can here it.

The Best of 2009, so far

A few months ago I blogged about a newish band and a great new album. As we head into the half way point of 2009, I would like to declare that album as the best I have heard in 2009, so far.

As I said last week, we have a lot of the year left and plenty of good music to see, so I doubt it will end up my #1 (there are 2 others competing right now I will mention tomorrow and the next day), but

Here is what I said a few months ago:

Robin Hilton of NPR's All Songs Considered mentioned on their blog that 2009 was already a much better music year than 2008. Considering the lack of great albums in 2008, this is not hard. He spoke of the obvious contenders, including U2, Animal Collective, Andrew Bird (overrated), M Ward and The Decemberists, along with some surprises, including what he considered the best album so far, Hospice by The Antlers.

Intrigued by the album name, I decided to pick it up. It is nothing less than stunning. An amalgamation of Sigur Ros and Bon Iver (hence, Robin's love) with pieces of Elbow, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Neutral Milk Hotel and Arcade Fire in there also, this 23 year old creator of an orchestra in his basement is a wonder to behold. Dealing directly with death, grief and pain, this is a surprisingly easy album to listen to. Ignore the lyrics and be transported another world, simple and dense. Listen closely to the lyrics and be torn apart, yet still transfixed on the beauty of the music created.

I have been listening to this album nonstop for a few days and find myself repeating it 3-4 times in a row before moving on. It is quiet, but heavy. It is worth your time and listening pleasure. Let me know what you think. Make sure you listen these songs.

A few months later (today):

I have listened to this album countless times during the past few months. It is an album of extreme melancholy, but surprising hope. The swoons and swells dip and rise at an almost classical level, just when you think the song is slowing to a painful pace, the crescendos build and you realize you are experiencing life and death in all its unvarnished reality, ups and downs, anger, sadness, hope and resolution.

The album is not about death, but about dying (not the singer dying, but a friend or family member) and coping. It sounds depressing, but it is not (unless you listen closely to the words).

The Antlers myspace.

You can check out many of the songs from the album on youtube.

Buy it here.

Two More Reasons This is Gonna Be a Good Music Year

Two upcoming releases I am very excited about:

We Were Promised Jetpacks, the latest great young Scottish band releases its American debut on my birthday, July 7. Like Frightened Rabbit, my favorite new band from last year, this bunch of young Scottish punks play emotionally charged guitar driven music that sounds as if the wheels are about to come off.

Known for alcoholic beverages, golf, Presbyterians and being England's stepchild, Scotland is coming into its own musically with a great music scene not involving bagpipes.

Listen here.

Watch the first single.

The second album I am looking forward to is by Moby, who has not put out an album I have really enjoyed in quite a while.

The first listens and the early reviews are quite good. I am enjoying what I am hearing (listen via myspace) or listen to Moby's Wait for Me in its entirety for a while at NPR's site.

overrated, but still quite good

Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavillion. I could change my mind by year's end, but so far this is not at the top of my list. There are some great songs and the album is pretty cohesive, but the comparisons to Radiohead and experimental Wilco are a bit premature. They have the dance sensibilities, but they are not dancing on the tightrope between experimental/ original and pop song structure as well as the masters. Really good, but not perfect.

Neko Case Middle Cyclone. I am a huge Neko fan. Her last 2 albums were masterful expressions of true country and her work with The New Pornographers is legendary. However, this is not special. It does not build on her other work, which I demand of an artist of her caliber. I still listen to it, but find myself heading to her back catalog. She did not disappoint like her contemporary, Jenny Lewis (thank God). I think my expectations are too high for her. I may be grading her on an unfair plane since it could be in my top 10.

Passion Pit Manners. I really like this album and loved their previous EP, which this takes songs from. Maybe that is why I don't believe the hype. Seriously, this is a cool dance record made by a bunch of white guys from New England. But, it is not the best album of the year, just like LCDSoundsystem was very good, but not the best thing of 2007. It is overrated but will make my Top 10 or 20... just not my top 3.

final thoughts on taking ourselves less seriously

21. Look at pictures of yourself when you were young and awkward. Show them to others. Let them laugh at your hairstyle, clothing or anything else. Notice how dorky you really did look.

22. Watch sports. Get your angst out by rooting for one team, against another and debating the unfairness of officiating. Why? Because it does not matter. It is more fun to debate things that don't matter anyway.

23. Watch The Hangover. It is that funny.

24. Go see The Flaming Lips in concert. Try to act cool.

25. Dance like Elaine on Seinfield.

and lastly, don't take the opinions you hold as Gospel. Don't hold on to them too closely. You could be wrong. And don't get worked up when people have different opinions than you. They are not indicting your worth as a human being by having a different opinion. Even if they are, they could be wrong.. or they could be right and you are wrong. Who knows? You don't and I don't. That much I know.

refocusing my blog efforts

It is not your imagination. I am refocusing my blog on music and culture stuff... at least for now. It is less controversial and I don't have to deal with all the fall out. Of course, I will still rant about stuff that angers me or gets inside my head, whether that is politics or religion.*

But, for now let's wade back into shallower water.

*which is why I am keeping my mouth shut on things like Iran and America's response. Even if I have some pretty formulated opinions, I figure it is better to let green dogs lie.

overrated in 09- Don't believe the Hype!

Antony and the Johnstons The Crying Light. Everyone is going nuts over the self conscious and deliberately odd piece of above average music with some form of originality pushed by music critics that want to expand our horizons without really expanding anything. If you think Joanna Newsom or Joan as Police Woman is special, you will love this. I don't. It is fine, may even make my year end Top 40, but c'mon.

The Ting Tings- We Started Nothing. Been there, done that. Terribly slight redux of Blondie, Lilly Allen and every other "smart" pop singer. You get the idea. But, I do like it... just not that much.

The Decemberists The Hazards of Love. The Decemberists release an album. It must be great, right? No. As their popularity grows, I become less impressed each successive album since Picaresque.

Dave Matthews Band Big Whisky and The GrooGrux King. I know. I know. Someone in the band dies and they release an album in his honor, so we must love it or we are jerks. I am a jerk. Plus, I never drank the Kool Aid. I have seen them numerous times and followed them back in the day as a resident of Richmond, VA their old stomping ground. They have had some great songs and solid albums, but only one truly great one, Before These Crowded Streets. This album is NOT worthy of being in the same sentence. It is fine, but sounds too much like other stuff. It may grow on me, but it is not their chef-d'oeuvre, as Rolling Stone declares.

even more ways to take yourself less seriously

12. If you read about politics, then read Matt Taibbi (to the left) or P.J. O'Rourke (to the Right) Find sources that speak about subjects you hold dearly with humor (and mock them). It is good for you.

Some sources for Taibbi's writings here, here, here or here.

Some sources for O'Rourke's writing here, here, here, here and here.

13. Picture yourself in underwear as you make a particularly important point. Would your point seem ridiculous if made by a person in underwear?

14. Eat a Popsicle. Outside. When it is hot. in front of someone else.

15. Volunteer to work in the nursery or with toddlers.

16. Volunteer to work with mentally handicapped persons and let them make fun of you.

17. Tell all of those ideas in your head to a child or someone mentally handicapped. Notice how little they care.

18. Tell jokes, even if they are not funny the first time. Work on your timing.

19. Find the humor in every day life. Notice that even Steve Inskeep on NPR has a wonderful sense of humor.

20. Boycott media that does not have a sense of humor and takes itself too seriously, even if but for a season.

more ways to take yourself less seriously

More ways to take yourself less seriously...

7. Listen to less earnest folk music, whiny Emo music and angry country or rap, all of which take themselves too seriously. Listen to a little Cheap Trick, The Format, The Beastie Boys, Louden Wainwright III, Jimmy Buffett, Eminem or Ben Folds (I recommend this song or watch it here- explicit lyric warning).

8. Read McSweeny's, Landover Baptist, The Door, Graph Jam, The Onion, Stuff White People Like, or Veto Corleone... anything satirical (and not just the stuff you agree with. Find stuff that confronts your biases).

9. Laugh when people mock you, especially when you are being to serious. Mockery is good for us. Seek out things that actively mock things you like or believe. Watch it until you can laugh at yourself.

10. Watch 30 Rock and see how well the self serious fare, especially Jack, Tracy and Jenna.

11. Get a dog.

why 2009 is a better music year than 2008, future releases

Back to something I actually know something about... music:

I think that 2009 is shaping up to be a pretty good music year, maybe on par with 2005, but not as good as 2006 or 2007. It is definitely better than 2008. 2007 was a ridiculously good year with brilliant releases by Radiohead, The New Pornographers, Okkervil River, Arcade Fire and The National along with really good stuff by MIA, Band of Horses, Elvis Perkins, Iron and Wine, Fiest, Lupe Fiasco and Tinariwen. In fact, any of those would have been in the top 2 of 2008, with only Frightened Rabbit (2008's best album) assured a spot in my 2007 list, had it been released a year earlier. However, looking back on it, I realize that The Hold Steady, Beck, Devotchka and The Roots all released very good albums.

2006 was a great year also, though not perfect (like 07). It gave us the first great release by K'naan (looking back on it- the best album of the year), along with greats from Jenny Lewis and the Watson Sisters, The Format, Regina Spektor, Gnarls Barkley, The Hold Steady, mewithoutyou, M Ward, Josh Ritter and Cold War Kids (many of whom released sub par albums in 08).

But 2005 was pretty solid but good, with great albums by only a few bands, Okkervil River, Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens (yes, it has been that long), My Morning Jacket and Sigur Ros. So, yes I think 2009 will be better than 08. It already is, and we have plenty of stuff on the horizon later this year (we are barely 1/2 way and many good albums come later in the year).

Over the next few days/ weeks I will try to give some thoughts on some of the new music I have been listening to and some that I am very excited about.

So, today lets focus on some exciting new music that is not out yet.

I am looking forward to Regina Spektor's Far coming out next week. The initial reviews are quite good andher last album is an all-time Bennett family favorite. Walking a line between the quirkiness of Fiona Apple and Tori Amos and the pop sensibilities of Ben Folds and a bit of Patty Griffin, each successive album by Spektor has gotten more acclaim and listeners. I have heard some of the new album and am impressed, knowing that her music grows on me over time (so if I like it today, I will love it next month).

The first single, the odd, compelling and singable One of Us for a new generation of listeners, entitled Laughing With is a distinctively Jewish take on God, which I hope will be a huge hit. I wish I was still a pastor or youth minister with a song like this to discuss with congregants. My kids already love the song, with Aedan asking for me to play it about 10 times in the car this weekend.

hear the song and watch the video.

Also, coming in August is the debut album by the band Fun. Consisting of the lead singer of The Format and a member of Anathallo, this should be a piece of sugary pop hiding lyrics full of melancholy and dark thoughts. I love that combination, which The Format perfected on an EP and album before saying goodbye to a cruel world unable to fathom its greatness.

The first single, At Least I'm Not as Sad (as I used to be) is a perfect example of the layer of sugary sweetness covering a bitter inner cookie. Listen on their myspace page. Judging from their show a few weeks ago, I think this is an indication of the direction of the album with some nods to the aforementioned Ben Folds along with poppy masters like Cheap Trick, The Bay City Rollers and Fountains of Wayne. The previewed songs are great and I cannot wait to get my hands on the final product.

I have heard the streaming from Wilco's latest and it is a vast improvement over Sky Blue Sky. While some Wilco cultists loved it despite the fact it was terribly sub par, I think this latest hearkens back to the more experimental sounds of previous releases, while looking forward and trying to be a rock band. I expect that I will like it a lot after multiple listens, but doubt it will be at the top of my year end list (it should be around #8-10 according to my predictions) like Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost is Born.

If you want to hear my take on the problems of Wilco's last album versus other bands (see Radiohead and U2) moving forward by reengaging their past, let me know and I will do a posting.

Lastly, I am also excited about the next albums by Magnolia Electric Company, Dinosaur Jr, Pearl Jam, Jay Z, Beastie Boys, New Pornographers, Modest Mouse, Gillian Welch and maybe the Fugees, all expected to be released this summer or fall.

Not taking ourselves seriously (part 1)

Hopefully this will be my last posting regarding the Emergent kerfuffle (dang, I love that word). Can I say it again? Kerfuffle. But, I never leave anything alone, even if I have been warned (hence, the scars).

However, here are some things we can all do, so we take ourselves, our opinions, our views, our affiliations and our loyalties a little less seriously.

Over the next few days I will offer my pastoral, fatherly and counseling advice to all readers, hoping to help themselves take themselves a little less seriously. This is for everyone everywhere at all times, not just Emerging Christians.

1. First of all... Lighten Up. Seriously. Someone is always smarter than you are.

2. Watch Stand Up Comedy. I recommend comedians that a) make fun of anything you consider sacrosanct and b) those that are particularly bizarre. One of the funniest, who is also bizarre and makes people uncomfortable is Daniel Tosh, the son of a Florida pastor (not for the very easily offended). Watch as much comedy as you do preaching (and more comedy than you watch or listen to talk radio or "news").

3. Drink Beer... with people.

4. Drink less Coffee, especially before commenting on blogs.

5. Draw on your face with magic markers (or allow kids to). Then go look in the mirror at how preposterous you look (note: make sure they are erasable).

6. Remember, unless you are involved with Iranian Elections or something like that, what you are part of and what you talk about, especially online, is not life and death and ultimately not THAT important.

a warning to Emergent

how is that for a provocative title?

Seriously, a hornets nest was stirred by Nick and Josh and me during the past week. However, in the midst of it I have had numerous people contact me with similar frustrations that Nick and Josh confronted, along with some that came to me, looking for a place to vent or healing. I may be a pastor, but I do not want to start an AA group for unaffiliated Emergents. I have no interest in any new or old camps (I am actually more of a hotel guy) and I don't want to be part of the fracturing and possible friendly fire that is hurting friends and foes alike. I have no horse in a race that needs to win (the last horse I followed was Barbaro, and look where that ended).

That said, something is going on and it needs to be dealt with. I am hoping that those that are deeply involved in Emergent, especially those that were in DC or were connected to DC, address it and deal with the fracturing before it is too late (in the internet age, this stuff happens quickly and needs to be dealt with quickly).

I am not a prophet and have no ideas (okay I have plenty of ideas), but I am praying that the vested EVers listen to the many disparate voices, the diaspora, the entrenched and the middlers, the critics and the defenders, allowing for each voice to be at the table... or they should just close shop on the official thingy and let people create new stuff along the way, letting natural friendships, alignments and affiliations take their own path (neither option is bad, in my opinion). But, sitting back should not be a long term strategy for the leaders of this thing.

Now I can tell you I new this was coming. I talked about the fractures as a normal movement phenomena (and was beaten up for it) on an Emergent forum a few months ago and had waited for such days since I first saw these fissures around 99 or 2000. At the time I thought it was like the Reformation where Luther, Calvin and Zwingli started fighting over minutia (which is happening on blogs all the time right now. seriously people, don't look for minor areas of disagreement to fight over. look at the heart of a writer or speaker and find places of agreement first). However, I realized along the way that the emerging church conversation was not a new Reformation (seriously, talk about trying to make something into something it is not).

Based upon the history of social movements, they always fracture, splinter and snipe (or worse). History is riddled with everything from the Reformation to the early US settlers, to hippy movements, to early Pentecostalism, to the Jesus Movement, to rap feuds, to EV vs. the New Reformed, all of which show us that people join together so they can break apart.

I guess Emergent is in good company and another in the long list of social experiments that confirm the cycles of human history. Oh well.

________________________________________________

update: in case anyone misread my intentions. I am not offering a stern warning by someone wanting to air dirty laundery or hoping for EV to "fail." I am offering a warning based upon seeing what happens with movements and social experiments. If we look at the past and then take into consideration the new technologies of the internet, etc. that were not a part of past such movements, we need to understand that people must respond quicker to criticism, fracturing and other issues than they have had to in the past. Everything is so quick right now that a week on the web is a few months in print.

Summer Vacation Reading Smackdown

We are heading off on vacation soon. Since we are cheap Floridians, it will be at the beach once more. Our kids are still young enough to think this is cool and special. Plus, we like to stay put for the week. I cannot wait til the kids are older and ready to do more exploration... then mountains here we come.

One of the best things about the beach relaxation event is the summer read. While some like to try their hand at some heavy tome, or impress their family and other beachcombers of their theological and intellectual superiority, I go in another direction. Since I am not a big fan of present day novels and don't want to use the beach to try to dig through Philip Roth or 600 pages of Michael Chabon/ David Foster Wallace, I try to find something light enough for summer and interruptions and compelling enough to keep me engrossed and away from the telly.

I briefly considered Malcom Gladwell's Outliers, but I have an interest in the ministry/ pastoral implications of his hypothesis... so it is out. I also considered How to Win a Cosmic War by Resa Aslan. His first book, No god But God is a brilliant introduction to Islam. But, seriously, do I need to read a book on religion and defense policy on vacation? The other two considerations were David Plotz's The Good Book, in which this wonderful Slate Magazine writer basically blogs the Bible, from a secular Jewish perspective and The Lost City of Z, recommended by Plotz a few months ago on his podcast.

Alas, my decision was made by the 40% off coupon at Barnes and Nobles for The Lost City of Z, as part of a Father's Day sale. Plotz has lost out 2 straight time due to coupons for other books. maybe next time.

So, what makes The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Gann so compelling? Well, besides the subtitle? The author digs into the history of the many searches for El Dorado in the Amazon, including a famous early 20th Century mission in which a world famous explorer disappears. The author, a writer for The New Yorker even goes looking for the city himself. Yeah, I know Brad Pitt bought the rights to the book and wants to star as the author, a regular shlubby Joe, but still, this could be fun. It has to be more interesting than Indiana Jones' search for the city last summer and it has a feel like a Jon Krakauer book.

quote of the day

"Christian fundamentalism, like all fundamentalisms, is a narcissistic faith, concerned most of all with the wrongs suffered by the righteous and the purification of their ranks." link

Jeff Sharlett, the best religious journalist in America and author of The Family: The Secret Fundamentlism at the Heart of American Power in his latest masterful piece of journalism, Jesus Killed Mohammed: The Crusade for a Christian Military.

Real debateable subjects

after all the debate surrounding my posts on a kinder gentler Internet and blog bullies, here are some much more interesting things for you to read and debate... with me or with others.

Read.

Think.

Discuss.

• Did the Beatles destroy Rock and Roll? The NPR post, the website and the book review. Instead of helping us "join together" did the Beatles make us tear apart into smaller race based sub genres? Very provocative stuff and more worthy of debate and conflict than anything theological or political. As an armchair rock historian, I am terribly interested in this premise, even if I disagree with it right now. Who says there are no original ideas?

• Who is right when it comes to eating fish ethically... and does it matter? link

• Does kissing dating goodbye create lifelong problems in dealing with the opposite sex? It has been 10 years, so we can look at it more objectively. link

• Wanna cause trouble and make people see how screwed up their system is? Vote for Manny Ramirez to be in the All Star Game.

• Is Will Ferrell an annoying cod or a great comic genius? link

• Should Scott Roeder be tortured to give up his intelligence regarding domestic terrorism if it will save lives? Link

• Was Che a murderous oppressor of people or a revolutionary role model to be praised? link

• What about Christians and guns? Link

Yes, I have opinions on all of these.

a kinder gentler internet

Chatting with my friend Gentry last night, something came to both us us regarding the internet, emergent and its guardians. It is something thing to think about as everyone talks about Emergent and dismisses those that have either left Emergent, are disappointed with Emergent or want to move on to something else...

just because someone is not part of your group anymore (or never were), does not mean they are not doing anything substantial, especially in their own little world. They may be making the world a better place, so don't assume they are not, just because they are not doing it for Emergent or whatever subgroup you belong to. I saw the Driscollites start down this road a few years ago, now some in Emergent have picked up on the meme (yes, I used that horrible word).

Just because they disagree with you on issues such as women in ministry, gay marriage, the atonement or the global warming and fair trade* does not make them unenlightened, bigoted and not emerging. There is no litmus test for what is emergent or emerging. If you have a litmus test, you are a fundamentalist of some stripe in my eyes (which may make me a fundamentalist).

People of good faith are on every side of every issue. People of very different positioning on every issue are caring for the sick, caring for the poor, clothing the naked, loving their enemies and sharing the Good News of the Kingdom of God and expressing it in churches and outside of churches. People that disagree on all issues, that consider themselves part of Emergent, the Emerging church, every denomination, Origin, Resurgence, the New Reformed crowd and post-church are caring for creation, acting neighborly and creating art. People that voted for Obama, McCain and refrained from voting are feeding the hungry and caring for orphans. People that disagree vehemently on issues like abortion, gay marriage and issues framed as equality issues by some can still love Jesus and want to affirm each other's worth.

But, each of these people can also act as a bully. Each person can make negative assumptions regarding the intentions of another, especially if they don't know that person. Each of these people can assume that there is something wrong with those they disagree with. Each of these people can assume they are superior to those that hold a less "correct" opinion on a vast array of subjects (such as I do regarding American Idol and John Mayer). Each of those people can snipe from behind an avatar and speak to people in an inhospitable manner, writing in a tone they would not use if face to face and calling it "heated discussion" or respectful dialog when it is nothing more than unbecoming for anyone that follows Jesus.

There is this little thing in every major religion that I try to teach my kids. You may have heard of it. I think it is called the Golden Rule or something like that. It tells us to treat people like we want to be treated. It may be handy for each of us as we blog, spend time on forums, facebook and twitter. Maybe we should think about how we want to be treated, what tone we want to hear, what words we find affirming and treat the person we are responding to in such a manner, especially if we don't know that person. Maybe those that consider themselves emerging Christians could create safe spaces, a kinder, gentler Internet, especially when talking about Jesus.

*ironically, I may agree with EV's unofficial stance on many of these issues. I just don't want there to be a stance on any of these issues, just some "ideas" and "thoughts" as Kevin Smith articulated in the film Dogma.

the other irony in this whole thing is that many people that have been left out by others in the past are doing the same thing to others.

I am almost done with this stuff, so I can get back to what is expected from me.. sarcasm.

Blog Bullies at Emergent

the problem with Emergent is really...

We have seen the picture before and laughed at it (and hopefully ourselves). But, this is the 800 pound gorilla in the Emergent camp that no one wants to talk about. I believe it is one of the reasons so many people that have loved Emergent and called it home for a number of years have felt disenfranchised. It is also why some have given up (saying this will push me farther out of the establishment, but I need to say it publicly).

It is not book deals, conferences, the supposed sellout of Tony or Doug (whom I believe should sell out as often as possible for their families- lots of kids and college expenses) or the lean times. For many people, especially those that have contacted me when they found out I was troubled by some of the present and future direction of Emergent, one thing is held in common...

Many of the blogs, bulletin boards and other sites connected, however tangentially to Emergent are simply not safe places to be.

Emergent has some bullies, bad apples ruining the entire bushel. Now, these people do not mean to be bullies, but they have become such. Some of the self-pronounced apologists, protectors and guardians have made others feel unwelcome, whether it is on a bulletin board or blog. In fact, sometimes people feel bullied on their own blog because one or two people push the conversation into a direction they want, feel the need to respond to every idea or thought, especially those they disagree with and feel the need to correct. I have seen this in a number of places.

I am not mentioning names, because it is unhelpful. All I know is that some are making people feel unwelcome at Emergent. They are not being hospitable. They are not creating or nurturing generative friendships. They seem to be more worried about the "truth" and their own voice than with relationships.

I hope we all examine ourselves and our motivations and honestly ask others if they consider us blog bullies. If they do, we should not attack. We should repent!*

If you feel bullied, call the person on it. If you feel the person is bullying others, call them on it. Be honest with those people. After they hear it the 25th time, they may actually start to listen. I have tried this and it has not helped, but if everyone does it, it may help.

If not for yourself, do it for Emergent, if you want to continue with EV. Sadly, for some that have loved Emergent, it is too late. They are worn out from the sniping and need something more life affirming (like an actually conversation with a friend that they met through Emergent). Excuse me for a second... I need to make a call to Minnesota to thank a friend for bringing a message of peace and hope to me in a loving manner during the past 10 years.

*by repent I mean, publicly acknowledge that we have done this, especially if one a bulletin board or individual blog and then Quit doing it. Also, if you feel I am talking to you, maybe I am. Ask someone else what they think, especially on a blog. Trust me, I have been much kinder here than what is going on in my brain when I see this behavior!

POST EMERGENT is the new Emergent, come on over!

a guy names Nick shared his disappointmentt with the direction of Emergent on his blog a few days ago. It was a risky post in which he shared his heart on the subject. Since then a number of commenters have shared similar feelings. Some of the commenters have taken the opportunity to misread the writer's intentions and been needlessly harsh at times, not taking to honest criticism and expressions of feelings to well.

However, that does not diminish the validity of his feelings. In fact, I have expressed similarly misgivings to a few of my friends, not towards the men and women that have put so much energy into it from the beginning (Tony, Doug, Brian, etc.) and need to be freed to move on to something else. But, my feelings (which I will not express) are conflicted towards the present direction of the group, especially surrounding the DC 24 gathering.

Feeling the need to give context, defend the past (which he should because of the nature of some of the comments towards him at Nick's blog) and challenge his readers, Tony Jones jumps into the fray in his latest posting.

Tony wants those that complain to do something. So, to follow Tony's advice, I will be beginning a new group for the post -Emergent Crowd (a friend from the 24 that met in DC told me he considered me Post-Emergent, which I know he meant as a compliment).

When involved in Emergent, I always jokingly told people that started asking big questions that Emergent is the Dark side, and I now wanted to welcome them to the dark side. Well, if Emergent is the dark side, post-emergent is the darker side. It is for those weary of much of the conversation and interested in moving on to something else and having different discussions.

So, my new group Post-EV is for those people. We will have a list of discussion topics. They will be discussed at our future conference, mentioned below, along with local groups which we will call Post-Horts (working title until we come up with a better name). I, of course, will be national coordinator of this group.

Here are some of the topics:

1) A discussion of the weird names associated with the Democratic Party of Minnesota (Democratic Labor and Farming Party or something like that) and whether Doug Pagitt knows anything about farming. A submeeting will discuss whether Doug should remove his facial hair for the remainder of the campaign. Another meeting can discuss Doug’s selling out by using an acronym for his campaign (SMART) if there is interest.

2) A discussion of Tony Jones’ book on the Didache, followed by an intervention to force Tony to write about something that will pay the bills in the future. Debate over fiction vs. straight reporting is encouraged. We will then move on to his future career options, especially what schools he should be allowed to teach at.

3) A discussion of why do so many of these Emerging Christians have such poor taste in movies and music. Why do they listen to so much whiny drivel by whiny white guys with guitars? Why do they like pablum like American Beauty? Do they like Coldplay because it appeals to their longing for the crappy worship music of their youth camps?

4) A discussion of why Lebron James is not a king, but more of a Little Lord Fauntleroy. Ohio residents are not invited.

5) Who is the most emergent group? My previous postings are required reading (1, 2).

6) A discussion of why so many in Emergent (not the “leaders”) are so self serious and have no sense of humor, especially when the mockery is directed towards them.

7) Self defense classes and required readings of "Art of War" to prepare to have a gang war against the New Reformed camp. it will be kinda like that scene in Anchorman, only bloodier. The pacifists will win and quickly repent.

8) A study of justice issues and politics from a pragmatic and realistic realm, with no white guilt or blatant Left/ Right distinctions involved… ok maybe a little.

9) A discussion of officiating in major sports. We will invite Tony to discuss what makes a strike a strike. This will not be a metaphor for Scripture, but focus on the issues of real importance, such as the incoherence of NBA officiating, the debacle of officiating in the Super Bowl and the strike zone. No discussion of soccer or NHL allowed.

10) There will be an event which will invite 51 women to speak and 49 men, thereby mirroring the percentages in the USA. 74 of these speakers will be white, while 13 will be black. It will get complicated with Latino and Latina speakers because they could be white or black, according to the census (Rudy C will be on the board to help with this dilemma). We will invite 4 gays or Lesbians, but it could be up to 10. We will even invite speakers from other countries, but we will deny that they are there, or shun them during the breaks.

The event will be called 2010 Christianity. And it will happen in 2011.

and beer will be involved. Lots of beer. And no Vegans are invited. Sorry, but I would not want to offend you. Also, if you think we should follow Kosher laws regarding shellfish and pork, you will have to begin your own group. We will even have workshop in which people will debate the merits of corn vs. rye vs. barley as ingredients in their favorite drink.

I thought about Minneapolis or some other popular Emergent place, but since this is Post-EV, you are coming to Florida because Emergent is scared of gators, mosquitoes, snakes, cougars, Europeans in inappropriate swimwear, New Yorkers and Mickey Mouse. That is why they never came to anything below Atlanta. But, this is a new day.

So, lets all begin our own groups, each one of us. Then the groupings and subgroupings won’t matter. Heck, we will be half way on our way to the Protestant Reformation at that point (2.0).

And then if we invite each other to be a part of them, we can add them to our resumes so we can actually get a job. Or, we can just snipe at each other from behind an avatar on a blog, which is the new American way.

open letter to the right wing regarding President O'bama

Dear Mr. O' LimHanbeck,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. I know that hoping you are in good spirits with Mr. Obama in office is asking too much. Of course, I am sure you are in very good spirits when you count gold in your pockets because you scare your listeners and speak in such a manner about a sitting president who may or may not be a possibly gay, Socialistic, Secret Muslim, America hating, non-citizen (at least that is what your followers are telling me).

Here is the deal. Call it a piece of advice, one that I know will be ignored.

You are shooting your load a bit too quickly. By throwing everything you have at the President in his first few months, you are giving yourself nowhere to go. Can you really take the rhetoric up a few notches without calling for someone to hurt him? I know you will try to take it right up to the point of treason where you get a midnight call from the Secret Service and dance on that line for the rest of his administration, but do you really need that much of a challenge? I do worry for your health when you act like this. Of course, the money could pay for really good blood pressure meds.

And if you complain about every single thing he does, calling each thing an abomination, evil, leftist, communistic, anti-American and wrong, do you realize that when he does something genuinely boneheaded, no one besides the fringers will be paying attention? Do you realize that if you tell us everything is horrible and he is a horrible man, then we pay absolutely no attention and you become useless to society (see Kieth Olbermann at the end of the Bush administration for an example of the line you crossed a long time ago). You could serve a purpose by speaking truth to power, but you serve nothing beyond your own ratings by scaring a few poor souls into believing this man will bring the end of the American Empire.

You actually know he won't but your true believer followers cannot decipher your real beliefs from the stuff you say on camera to sell Snapple.

I get it. You don't like him. He is different. But, you express hatred, not only for his ideas, but for him.. as a human being. I can hear you saying, "but the Left did it to Bush." However, you have told us that you are superior to the Left, better, smarter, more patriotic and more human. Well, act like it. Do you really think that every Democrat, Liberal or person that disagrees with you is bad, worthy of contempt? Because this is what you express. 

Everything is the fault of the new president, even if it is a policy of the old president, or something he inherited. I mean everything. In fact, everything is the fault of every person that has ever existed that is to the left of you. None of them has done anything good for society and you express hatred for each of them. The act is old. Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Clinton, Gore, Carter, Mondale, Kennedy (all of them), FDR, O'Neill, Dean, Edwards and the ilk (only Truman gets a pass, because he dropped the "Big One") have never had a single good idea, and neither has a single person from Hollywood not named Gibson. They have never done a single good thing for this country. They should have never existed. They are not real Americans. I would not be surprised if you said they needed to be sent to re-education camps to learn to be patriotic.

Think about it. Tell us when you disagree, but keep the rhetoric in check. Not everything he does is bad, just because he does it. You know this. In fact, you probably hang with Liberals on the weekend, but your followers don't. In fact, some of your followers take your words seriously and hate anyone that you express scorn towards, whether they are Democrats, Gays, Muslims, Liberals, or those from different countries and of different ethnicities. But, they hold special hatred for the president.

So, when you get on the news and complain about the bailout, taxing the rich, his race speech, his Supreme Court pick, his family dog, his date night, every cabinet pick, where his kids go to school, his helicopter, his greetings of Saudi royalty, his greetings and conversations of Democratically elected leaders of nations we don't like, his food choices, his entertainment at White House functions, his press conferences, his performance at the White House correspondence dinner, his interviews with media outlets, his wife's clothing choices and his position on torture and Gitmo, do you really think anyone beyond the Right Wing fringe is still listening to you when you complain about his speech to the Muslim world?

If you want us to listen to your points on one thing, don't yell a little louder when all you do is yell. We cannot tell if we are ever supposed to take you seriously if you cry wolf 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Seriously... shut up on most of the stuff, so you can actually research the stuff that matters and have something helpful to say for the entire nation, not just those that line your pockets with gold. It is the patriotic thing to do, if you actually love America more than your bank account and your political party.

Thanks for listening,

Rick Bennett

p.s. could you tell your followers to tone down the rhetoric on all the peripheral stuff, especially regarding the President's citizenship and closeted desire to destroy America from the inside?

The Wisdom of Tracy Jordan

Now for something completely different, I give you a great site to waste time if you are a fan of 30 Rock. This site is chock full of every line that Tracy Jordan (played by Tracy Morgan) has shared during season 3, most of which are wonderful nonsequiturs.

If you don't watch 30 Rock, please accept my condolences.

Link

My top 10 include:

1. “Yes you are, son. That’s what that birth certificate you printed out for me said.”

2. “What? Please. We are here because white folks think they can do whatever they want to black folks. It’s like when Adrian Brody kissed Halle Berry at the Oscars. White people stole jazz, rock and roll, Will Smith, AND heart disease. Now they think they can take my hard earned money.”

3. “I haven’t seen Oprah since she did that episode about the worst celebrity dads.”

4. “I hate to see you like this, Ken Doll. It’s like an owl without a graduation cap. Heartbreaking!”

5. “There’s no link between diabetes and diet. That’s a white myth, Ken. Like Larry Bird or Colorado.”

6. “I’m saying the Disneyfication of New York is over, everyone. At the stroke of midnight, your Lexus is going to turn back into a hot pile of rats fighting over a human finger.”

“7. I’m Flava Obama and I’d like to introduce our Undersecretary of Housing and Crystal Meth, boooooyyyyy.”

8. “Well, if all you want is a hug from a black person, maybe you should just host the Price is Right.”

9. “I watched Boston Legal 9 times before I realized it wasn’t a new Star Trek.”

10. “I almost didn’t make it here this afternoon, but then a very special friend showed me the way. So I’d like to take a moment to thank Victor Cardova from the Sunoco station on Lennox Avenue.”

things to make you think and get angry

There are some good things I would like to share today, in case you have not seen them. All of these are slightly controversial and have something to bother or piss off everyone, at least a little.

1. Here is an interesting article in Sojourners on Starbucks and why they may not be as stellar as we want them to be (my mantra for too long). Link

2. Why both sides are wrong about America as a Christian or Secular nation. Link

3. Christianity Today on The Gospel and The Gosselins. The gist of this article is how Christians prop up anything that looks "Christian" in the media and quickly tear it down, if it screws up, never looking in the mirror at how an immature Evangelical faith is part of the problem (see Mel Gibson, Miss California, etc.). Link

4. And something to piss off most people. Will Saletan of Slate magazine, America's foremost writer and journalist on abortion (one with conflicted feelings- pro-choice but abhors abortion) asks if it is wrong to murder an Abortionist, declaring the similarities between George Tiller and his probable murderer, both of whom are men that believed in something so strongly that they would do things that no one else would for that cause. Link

I like risky writing, especially in a mainstream publication.

Dangerous Blogging

I have not been blogging as much lately, but it is not due to having nothing to say. I have found myself self censoring a lot lately. There are some things I just don't want to put out there, or think that I will suffer some sort of consequence* if I relate them, especially on some sacrosanct and politically correct topics. There is so much consensus in the world in which I sit that an alternative view seems dangerous, especially related to groups/ issues we are supposed to support, political and theological opinions we are supposed to have and ways we identify ourselves.

It is one thing for me to be controversial on pop culture topics. It is quite another to put myself out there on other things. And I have found myself holding back a lot lately. To be honest, I have held back on many things in the past, especially things that I don't hold dear and that I am ambivalent or agnostic about. But, I feel like I am in bit of a no man's land right now on some things (I could piss off both sides of some issues with my real opinions).

I am sure I am not the only one in this boat. Do you find yourself favoring too much or too little potentially dangerous opinion in your writing? Do you try to walk a middle ground? If so, why? Just making sure I am not crazy:)

* not sure what the real consequences are beyond pissing people off, garnering negative comments, losing readership, becoming a pariah or losing a chance at a position or career option. I am sure there are other consequences, some of which are worse than others.

a visualization of what goes through my mind when hearing about Jon and Kate G

The following images express what enters my mind whenever I see or hear anything about those 2 people all over the news that have 8 kids and apparently hate on each other while the public watches.

torturous television

"It is way worse than I thought it would be, and that's no joke," Mancow told listeners. "It is such an odd feeling to have water poured down your nose with your head back...It was instantaneous...and I don't want to say this: absolutely torture."

"Absolutely. I mean that's drowning," he added later. "It is the feeling of drowning."

"If I knew it was gonna be this bad, I would not have done it," he said.

While I was away this weekend I missed something you may have caught. If so, please forgive the redundancy.

Self described Right Wing radio host Erich Muller from Chicago subjected himself to what Sean Hannity has refused to, waterboarding. He participated in the stunt to prove once and for all that waterboarding is not torture, and not that big a deal. Like torture supporter Christopher Hitchens, he came to the conclusion that... (surprise) Waterboarding is torture. You know Hannity won't do it, not because he is scared to try it, but because he knows what the outcome will be. It is easier to condone a behavior such as the torturous waterboarding if you have never experienced it.

So, all you waterboarders, join the fun and give it a try. The summer will be hot and dry so you could use a cup of cold water poured over your face. I am sure it will be refreshing.

Here is the article about Muller's experience, plus video. By the way, the water pouring lasted only 6 seconds before he gave up (or 5 seconds longer than Hannity or I would last).

nobody is home

and hoping to climb

Mount Washington

See You next week.

bands I love, part 1- Devotchka

Some would call me a music snob, but I do not think that is true. My love of all genres and lack of prejudice regarding popularity, "street cred" or labels prove my position. I mean, I like Hanson, Cheap Trick, Michael Jackson, The Electric Light Orchestra, Madonna, U2 and Huey Lewis. You cannot be a snob and like those artists. Sure, I am picky. I have high standards. But, I am not a snob.

As said by Bill Pullman to Alan Rickman in Bottle Shock, "you're a snob. It limits you." I don't want to be limited by being snobbish towards country, rap, gospel, doo wop or pop. I believe good music, good writing, good music and good beer can be found anywhere (my favorite Tampa eateries are cheap and fast, but special).

Sure, I don't like American idol, but that because I hate musicians and art held up as a popularity contests and competition based upon who "does better" on an individual week, forcing them to jump through hoops to garner ratings and see who can "wow" people the most and get the most votes. Voting on music sickens me and cheapens art. There, I said it.

I mention this because I take my recommendations for artists I think others should listen to seriously. I am not interested in promoting the next big thing or someone cool only because you have never heard of them. While I listen to a lot of music, I filter everything and let only a few artists through because they fit the criteria I look for (see this). Once I find an artist, I want to share them, no matter the genre, the popularity/ obscurity or what the Indie Police (Pitchfork and the like) say. I am not interested in being the first on the block to mention a band (I call these people Immedianistas- they have to be the first to comment on anything). I am interested in above average music.

That said, I want to share a few bands that have been striking me as of late, some of which have new albums out and some don't. However, for some reason they have not hit the mainstream at a level that should accompany their sound.

The first such band I mention is Devotchka, from Denver, Colorado. Their last album came out in 2008 and made my top 10 list.

Like many, I discovered Devotchka when they did the Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack. After garnering a Grammy nomination for that music and good press from Rolling Stone, I thought their next album would be huge. However, it flew under the radar. While critics and bloggers were extolling the pleasures of similar world music influenced bands like Firewater, Beirut, Gogol Bordello and Andrew Bird (all of whom I like, but pale in comparison) . Somehow Devotchka's brand of Eastern European influenced gypsy rock with Gothic dark undertones and a beat you can dance to has not caught on in America (violins, trombone, accordion, etc.). There are flourishes of Ennio Morriconi (the composer), Morrissey and the Smiths, Arcade Fire and Tom Waits along with polka, circus music and Cabaret tunes. It is great stuff, sounding like nothing in your record collection or on the radio, yet surprisingly accessible and fun. Somehow, with all that happening, it never sounds forced, contrived or hokey. It sounds like great theatrical rock and roll, albeit with different instruments and sensibilities.

If you listen to world music, or just like good Indie Rock, I would recommend their last album, A Mad and a Faithful Telling, along with their work on Little Miss Sunshine. How it Ends is also quite good. If it does not strike you at first, keep listening. They are one of those bands that get better with each listen, that I never grow tired of.

listen to them here or at their website.

Here are a couple of videos: Til The End of Time from Little Miss Sunshine

How It Ends

Here is a link to a radio show introducing their music.

Let me know what you think.

the risks of being unconventional (a rant)

The grief has ramped up lately.

"Rick does not like the new Star Trek. Why can't he just let go?"

"Rick hates American Idol. He is a wierdo."

"Rick does not drink at Starbucks. He must not understand coffee or America."

"Rick is not enamoured with 24, Lost or Heroes. He just isn't cool."

"Rick does not like Christian music. He must be going to hell."

"Rick would rather drink water than Bud Light. What is wrong with him?"

As a supervisor in CPE said to me one day, hoping to get a rise out of me, "how much energy do you put into not fitting in?" My answer surprised him. I told him, "None whatsoever. I expend most of my energy trying to fit in." In fact, I want to like all the pablum and mind numbing entertainment that Hollywood sells us. I just cannot. Seriously. I am unable.

When I find those with multiple tattoos and piercing, dressing boldly and declaring their difference with the world, I sometimes think to myself... "poser." Why? Because when I talk to them, especially those of the Christian variety, I usually find myself in the company of someone with very conventional ways of thinking (overstating to make point). They want to rebel from the pack, which I can appreciate. They want to be noticed for their differences. But, at the end of the day, they are pretty mainstream thinkers (which is fine). As for me, my brain operates so differently (I am told), that I want to blend in just a little bit.

You see, I want to be the guy enjoying Adam Sandler comedies, living in the suburbs, driving an SUV, eating whatever is thrown in front of me and drinking cheap beer. I want to be the guy listening to Hannity or Olbermann, voting for whomever I am sold, caring deeply about American Idol with my pure bred dog sitting on my lap. I want to attend First Baptist Church, sing the simplistic, overly emotional songs, while reading the Bible in the proscribed manner and buy into the myth of American Christianity and exceptionalism. I want to live happy and without thought about the consequences of my every action. I want to be Jude Law's character from I (Heart) Huckabees before his revelation. Instead I am Mark Wahlberg's fire fighter. Trust me, I don't want that. I don't want to question everything.

Or maybe I do. In fact, I am very comfortable within my skin as a contrarian that looks at life quite differently (it is all I know). I do not go out of my way to be a strange guy that sees the other side of the coin always. It is just me... and I wish people would accept people that are not inside the mainstream, especially the ones with conventional haircuts and clothing, that look like everyone else. It seems easier to accept those that LOOK different than those that THINK different (and this goes on all sides of the political/ religious and social spectrum- they are all the same).

Let me be comfortable as someone that does not just let go at Star Trek and let the inanity of the plot overshadow the wonderful characterization. Let me think John Mayer is a sellout and Coldplay rewrites the same song over and over (so does Dave Matthews). You see, I quite enjoy being someone that demands of our culture that they shoot high, whether it is food, politics, religion, beer, film, television or music. I think we should demand better than what they feed us. Why is that so bad? Why should I just accept whatever THEY are selling us?

Is it a threat to others and their deeply held feelings and beliefs that I do not agree with them? I went through this in 94-95 with Friends. The fact that I thought the show was stupid on so many levels was a threat to others that liked it. Who cares? It is just one guy's opinion.

If you like a stupid sappy show, so be it. Just don't expect me to like it because it is the cool thing and everybody likes it. If you like something I think is bad, stand up for it. Don't justify. Show me its intrinsic value for you. I don't care what your line of reasoning is. In fact, I will think highly if you can show me you have thought about it. You are thinking for yourself, which is all I want, even if you just like movies where guys and girls meet at the airport when all hope is supposedly lost (it worked for me in I Love You Man).

But let me hold onto my idea that (usually) when everybody likes it, it may appeal to the lowest common denominator. Just face it. That does not make you a bad person because you like the following (and it does not make me a freak because I do not like this stuff):

American Idol (I don't like oversinging. I like subtlety. I am not impressed by power alone)

Starbucks (Again, I like subtly. I am not impressed by strength at the expense of taste)

Walmart (never liked it, even before the labor stuff. It always stressed me out)

McDonalds (did not grow up on fast food, never been a fan of the stuff. Blame my parents)

Coldplay (one good album, many mediocre ones. It all sounds the same, like midtempo worship songs)

Lost (went there with superior X Files. Not heading down rabbit hole again)

Titanic (it made my butt hurt and I had to pee)

24 (I will gear myself up to sit down in front of the TV to be stressed out for an hour, oh, and watch people tortured)

Chili's, Applebee's and all fern bars or chains (man cannot live on chicken fingers alone)

Ron Howard flicks (see Coldplay)

Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell or (there are exceptions, usually dramas)

Dan Brown novels

Dallas Cowboys, LA Lakers, Lebron James, Michael Jordan, NY Yankees, Tiger Woods (I like a little competition and I hate extreme cockiness)

NASCAR (not a snobby southern thing though)

Dancing with the Stars, So you think you can Dance, Extreme Home Makeover, etc....

Reality Television and soap opera type dramas, most medical dramas (OK, most television)

Romantic Comedies

Hugh Jackman, Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Mel Gibson

Michael Bay

Wild at Heart or anything by Eldridge (actually pretty much anything popular that Christians read)

John Mayer, Norah Jones, James Taylor and most of the artistic pop singers

So what if I think Braveheart, Shawshank Redemption, Saving Private Ryan, Silence of the Lambs and Forrest Gump were overrated. I think that most big hits are.

By the way, there are plenty of popular things I like, including:

Sportscenter, The Daily Show, Seinfeld, MASH, fried chicken (I just don't eat it), Green Day (even if they sound like the superior Ted Leo), U2, Radiohead, The freakin Beatles, the freakin Beach Boys, the freakin Stones, Batman: The Dark Knight (the 2nd biggest film of all time), 5 Guys, In & Out Burger, Michael Jackson (the musician), Madonna, Prince, Harry Potter, Iron Man movie, Boston Celtics, Sweet tea, Google, football, baseball, basketball, The Office, Brian Williams and NBC News, 30 Rock, Judd Apatow comedies, Seth Rogan, The Shack, Pulp Fiction, Star Wars, Alfred Hitchcock, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Slumdog Millionaire and Jesus. I could go on and on and on. See. I am just like you.

Rant... done

A Soundtrack for Clinical Pastoral Education

I may have mentioned that I have been part of Clinical Pastoral Education during the past few months. It is a class that you can take during seminary or serve in a residency for an entire year. It is much more intense than a regular class with weekly personal/ theological reflections, as well as regularly shared pastoral encounters, in which a student shares a pastoral dialogue between student and patient/ parishioner which is torn apart by the class. This allows the student to see his or her deficiencies as a pastor/ chaplain so he or she can provide better care in the future. While it is usually tied to medical chaplaincy, it should be part of any seminary education process because it makes better pastors and ministers. Sadly, only a few seminaries and denominations require it. I wanted it in seminary but was unable to take it. I am now finishing up a unit related to my job responsibilities.

Part of my own discipline in the class is to intersect music which speaks directly to my soul and is the lens through which I see life and my theological/ personal reflections. I pick a song each week as a soundtrack to my reflection, sometimes using it in class (sometimes just sharing its lyrics). In the midst of this I have created a nice little mixtape of my own spirituality as expressed in this class, a soundtrack for Rick Bennett at this moment in his life. Here are some of the selections (I wish muxtape was still around so I could create it to be listened to).

Some of these songs are deeply reflective and personal and some will make no sense without context or familiarity. Such is the aim of CPE. Its desire is to force its participants to dig deep into their own psyche and spirit to better deal with those things which hold us back from caring for others. Yes, it is cheaper than therapy, especially if someone else is paying.

When I began this class I made a list of probable songs, most of which I have not used. Of course, maybe I will use some of them for a second unit of CPE. But it does strike me that what I thought I would use and talk about did not come to pass. Some of the assumed, but unused songs include: Windowsill/ My Body is a Cage / No Cars Go/ (antichrist television blues) by Arcade Fire, Fake Empire by The National, Best Imitation of Myself / You've Got to Live with Who you are by Ben Folds, Could be Worse by Eef Barzelay, I Might Be Wrong / Jigsaw Falling Into Place by Radiohead and The War Criminal Stands to Speak / Our Life is not a Movie by Okkervil River.

Here is the list of what was used weekly, with a lyrical taste:

Constructive Summer by The Hold Steady ("I heard your gospel, it moved me to tears, but I couldn't find the hate and I couldn't find the fear")

The Charging Sky by Jenny Lewis ("and it's a surefire bet I'm gonna die, so I'm taking up praying on Sunday nights... as insurance or bail")

Static on the Radio by Jim White ("Everything I think I know is just static on the radio")

When Angels Fall and All This Time by Sting ("2 priests came round our house tonight to offer prayers for the dying, to serve the final rite")

Both of Us'll Feel the Blast by Waterdeep ("I hope we sit together when Jesus serves the wine, so I can look into your eyes when I taste it the first time")

Furr by Blitzen Trapper ("and now my fur has turned to skin/ and I've been quickly ushered in/ to a world that I confess I do not know/ But I still dream of running carelessly through the snow)

Still Fighting It by Ben Folds ("everybody knows it hurts to grow up/ and everybody does/ Let me tell you what/ The years go by/ and We're still fighting it")

I Saw the Light by Hank Williams, Sr. ("Then Jesus came in like a stranger in the night/ Praise the Lord, I saw the light")

Sympathy for Jesus by Don Chaffer and the Khrusty Brothers ("I'm saddled with a job you know of interpreting my Dad, to a bunch of frightened people/ frightened or just mad")

Throw it All Away by Toad the Wet Sprocket ("with the time I waste on the life I never had, I could have turned myself into a better man")

Bastards of Young by The Replacements ("those who love us best are the ones we' lay to rest, and visit their graves on holidays at best/ those who love us least are the one's we'll die to please...")

Intervention by Arcade Fire ("working for the church while your family dies")

Righteous Path by The Drive By Truckers ("I don't know God, but I fear his wrath, I'm trying to keep focused on the righteous path")

What are some of the songs on your soundtrack?

Eugene Peterson on the contemplative life, quote #8

final entry:

Doing the right thing (reading scripture) but doing it in the wrong way (reading it impersonally for information or for principles that I can use to get ahead). Using impersonal ways and means will never bring about any congruence between the text and our lives and, of course, nothing remotely contemplative.

The contemplative life, growing toward congruence, is slow work. It cannot be hurried. It is also urgent work and cannot be put off. Life is deteriorating around us at a rapid pace, and the life at the center, the gospel life—with the elements of congregation and scripture as major pieces—is being compromised, distorted, degraded at an alarming rate. In the American way, slow and urgent are not compatible. They cancel one another out.

But in the Christian way, they are joined together. Urgent as this is, there is no hurry. Impatience cancels out contemplation. Patience is prerequisite. Formation of spirit, cultivation of soul, developing a contemplative life, realizing congruence between the way and truth—all this is slow, slow work requiring endless patience. Human life is endlessly complex, intricate and serious. There are no shortcuts to becoming the persons we're created to be. We can't pump contemplation on steroids.

Unfortunately, patience is not held in high regard in American society. We get faster and faster and we become less and less; our speed diminishes us.

read the entire essay here. It is adapted from a Christian Centure lecture.