Voice Box

friday listening party: Robbie Seay Band's Lament and John Mark McMillan's Resurrection

Lament and Resurrection... two expressions that we often either avoid, ignore, or simply miss... two expressions vital to the missional life, as we share hope and help with those in need around the world.  Without lament, we are selfishly silent in the face of the realities of disease and despair, poverty and oppression.  Without resurrection, all the hope and help in the world is just an anesthetic that wears off to reveal deeply infected wounds.  Lament and resurrection are on my mind this week as Julie and I continue the Doma (ad)venture, and as I've been listening to some new music released on Tuesday.

Check out Robbie Seay Band's Lament...

Check out John Mark McMillan's Resurrection...

friday listening party: Matt Maher sings for the widow and the orphan

You know Matt Maher as the songwriter of 'Your Grace is Enough' and 'I Will Rise.'  But do you know that his newest album, Alive Again, is, in my opinion, one of the most creative and theological profound worship albums of late.  He does not give into cliche, yet he stays grounded in the ancient weight of his faith.  There are several highlights on his album, 'Alive Again', 'Remembrance', and 'Christ is Risen'.  But since this blog consistently focuses on the needs of the poor and the vulnerable.  I want to share with you today his song, 'No Greater Love'.  Enjoy.

if I don't get some shelter... I'm gonna fade away...

My wife got up this morning at 3am to drive to Nashville for the first annual conference of the Christian Trafficking Shelter Association.  We all need shelter.  It is one of the basic human needs.  Maslow places it in his second tier of needs - the needs for safety.  The Psalmist knows that God is our shelter.  There are so many - here in the US and around the world - exposed to the elements, vulnerable to storms, war, fire, rape, and murder (as the Rolling Stones say).  I pray that we know how to turn to God for our shelter and to 'build' shelters for the vulnerable people on this planet.  As I'm thinking about this and thinking about my wife in Nashville, I've got two songs stuck in my head.  Enjoy Ray LaMontagne singing 'Shelter' and Rolling Stones singing 'Gimme Shelter.'

friday listening party: U2's Window in the Skies

I've been listening to this song quite a bit this week.  Here are the lyrics...

The shackles are undone
The bullet's quit the gun
The heat that's in the sun
Will keep us when there's none
The rule has been disproved
The stone it has been moved
The grave is now a groove
All debts are removed

Oh can't you see what our love has done
Oh can't you see what our love has done
Oh can't you see what our love has done
What it's doing to me

Love makes strange enemies
Makes love where love may please
Soul in its striptease
Hate brought to its knees
The sky over our head
We can reach it from our bed
If you let me in your heart
And out of my head

Oh can't you see what our love has done
Oh can't you see what our love has done
Oh can't you see what our love has done
What it's doing to me

Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh

Please don't ever let me out of here

I've got no shame
Oh no, oh no

Oh can't you see what love has done
Oh can't you see
Oh can't you see what love has done
What it's doing to me

I know I hurt you and I made you cry
Did everything but murder you and I
But love left a window in the skies
And to love I rhapsodize

Oh can't you see what love has done
To every broken heart
Oh can't you see what love has done
For every heart that cries

Love left a window in the skies
And to love I rhapsodize

Oh can't you see

Check out this inspiring and innovative video:

And then the same concept applied to live U2 footage with a great intro of a concert ending sing-along of 40.

friday listening party: You'll Never Walk Alone

I first met Kevin Palys as a sophomore at Valparaiso University.  Since then, we've reconnected through intersecting our film and international aid worlds in some fun and creative ways.  He's a writer, producer, and director, and operates PettingZoo Pictures.  Recently, he introduced me to a song that I had somehow missed over the years.  It's a beauty from the musical, Carousel.  Here is Johnny Cash's version of 'You'll Never Walk Alone.'

Then through a little YouTube investigation, I learned that for decades Liverpool FC fans have been singing this song at their matches (that's what European football fans call games).  Yeah, and they call soccer, football.  Here's their version:

friday listening party: OK Go likes to dance

highlights from the Hope for Haiti telethon

Some of my favorite musical moments of the show...

friday listening party: Matt Morris

I must admit that this edition of Friday Listening Party comes to you courtesy of some different sources that most of my music posts: my mom, Justin Timberlake, and Mickey Mouse Club.  My mom originally sent me a YouTube of Matt Morris singing 'Bloodline' at Paste Magazine.  I don't think my mom has heard of Paste Magazine, but she knows a good song when she hears one.  She trained me well - or maybe we've trained each other well.  Morris got his start on Mickey Mouse Club and then was signed to Justin Timerlake's record label (this music might not 'rock your body' like Timberlake, though).

Morris's unique voice, roots and R&B influence, and provocative lyrics are a great combination.  In Bloodline's second verse, he says,

She heard heaven is invite only reserved for Christian soldiers
Not on wet girls living in the city asking for change from strangers
But father said Jesus loves her even though she never married
God loves her more than the Christians do, she's part of his holy bloodline

Money's chorus says this...

Money ain't the villian
It's greed that's the killer

friday listening party: Hope for Haiti

Please tune in on all the major networks tonight at 8pm EST for the Hope for Haiti telethon.

Here's a taste of what's to come tonight.  Here's Rihanna singing 'Redemption Song' on Oprah.  She'll be joined tonight by Jay-Z, Bono, and The Edge.

If mainstream music isn't your thing, you hipsters, folksters, and indie rockers can still get involved.  Paste Magazine has launched Songs for Haiti.  Go to the Download Vault to buy music that will support relief efforts in Haiti.  You'll find artists like these: Ludacris, Switchfoot, Andrew Bird, Bruce Cockburn, Arrested Development, Ben Folds, Cowboy Junkies, Emmylou Harris, Indigo Girls, Matthew Sweet, Of Montreal, Passion Pit, She & Him, The Avett Brothers, The Decemberists, The Jayhawks, The Low Anthem, William Fitzsimmons, Rosie Thomas and The String Cheese Incident.

U2 and MLK speak and sing in the name of love