To Blog Or Not To Blog

Warning - this will be a fairly random and possibly incoherent post tonight. I really don't have much of a clue what to write about. So, since I started this blog to serve as a record of things I go through in life, I guess it has the right to be pretty random sometimes.

I haven't posted anything in about 12 days - and the last time I posted, I did a song spotlight on a Rolling Stones song! So, what's going on with me? For starters, I've made some technical transitions - in anticipation of needing extra space for the little one coming in November, we have moved to a laptop and a somewhat slower internet connection. For some reason, I don't seem as drawn to posting things anymore with the change of computer and change of scenery. That probably doesn't make any sense. I've also been working a little extra at work for a few weeks, which slowly drags on me, and I eventually get more tired, go to bed earlier, etc. Also, I decided to put down my best blog material, the John Owen book. If you recall, the Owen book was really a rewritten version of three of his books - one of the mortification of sins, another on temptation, and the final one on indwelling sin. Well, after reading and getting A LOT out of the first two books, the final book was about the same length as the other two combined, and I also decided that I read enough about the power of sin for awhile. So I'm in a book transition. I think I'm going to try and read two books at once - "The Four Loves" by C.S. Lewis and "The God-Entranced Vision of All Things" by John Piper / Justin Taylor about the legacy of Jonathan Edwards. I'm also going to reading through Joshua and possibly A.W. Pink's "Gleanings in Joshua." Yeah, we'll see how that goes. If I have something good to share, I promise I'll try. There's probably not a day that goes by that I don't think of giving up on blogging for life. There are so many out there already, is there really a need for one more as weak as mine? We'll see. Also, I should probably confess (as I will at 6 AM tomorrow morning to my accountability brothers) that too much of my free time has gone to fantasy football activities. It's that time of year again -- for me, fantasy football slows down after the season starts. Anyway...

I did manage to pick up some new music this last week. I had come to point where I had almost worn out the music that I had. Long overdue, I finally joined Caedmon's Call's Guild for a whopping lifetime fee of $10. This enabled me to order a few CDs of theirs that I didn't yet have. I plan on sharing the lyrics from one song that I particularly liked. Also, the result of hours of internet searching for good music, I came across what I believe is a winner: Sovereign Grace Ministries and their Valley of Vision CD. It seems as there is this collection of Puritan prayers and devotions out there that is printed as 'The Valley of Vision,' and every song on this CD was inspired by prayers in that book. What a grand idea for a worship CD. It's really good too - probably not quite on the level of an Indelible Grace or Red Mountain Music hymn CD, but it's a little different (and it's an added bonus if you order the Valley of Vision book to go with it).

Anyway, let me share some lyrics (for someone as completely and utterly incapable in anything related to music as myself, I sure share a lot of music on here)...
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Song Title: Potiphar's Door
Artist: Caedmon's Call
Album: The Guild Collection, Volume II
Writer: Aaron Tate

When I was a little boy, I couldn't know the cost of going to war
When I counted 'em and walked that aisle, you know that I couldn't count that high
But now I can count that high
And I'm counting: 1, 2, 3, 4
Don't wanna fight this good fight no more

So I'm knocking on Potiphar's door sayin'
"Hey, on second thought, I might be in for some more"
So I'm knocking on Potiphar's door
While the keeper of the keys and the knocker on the door says
"Don't you live for what I died for"

So I'm staring' through the window screen
Wishing I could do all those things Ive seen
I know it's sin that leads to death but it looks like fun to me
And fun is the one thing I need
Because this race has knocked the wind all out of me

There are so many things I wish I had done before I repented
And when I said it, sometimes I wonder if I really meant it
I have this bad habit of raisin' the dead
And inviting them to eat at the table in my head

The old house it has been plundered, the deed has changed hands
The owner is all bound up and exiled to a foreign land

Why this song: I'll keep it short tonight. Simply speaking, I got a new CD, and this song immediately grabbed my attention from the first time I heard the chorus. One thing I've always loved about Caedmon's Call is their willingness to sing songs that most Christian artists would never think of singing.

Why I like it: Because, unfortunately, I can relate. Granted, I've never been in a situation like Joseph was in Potiphar's house, but the similarities are all around me. There isn't a day that goes by that something on a billboard or on television isn't begging for the gaze of my eyes or time in my thoughts. And there have certainly been days that I get tired of fighting the good fight or running the race. But as I've said over and over again on this blog, we as Christians must fight. We have to. Our lives depend on it.

Related Scripture: Genesis 39

Favorite line: "Don't you live for what I died for." One of the best tools in fighting sin and temptation is to remember that our Lord died for the very sins that tempt us. And shame on us if we live for those things. Ultimately, I don't think that's the best tool (which I believe is finding a greater love to replace the 'love' of sin) -- but this one works well. The Holy Spirit isn't' silent in the heart of a believer...we have to shut him up or refuse to listen.

That's all I have time for tonight. This song is a good one, and it's really catchy too. That Aaron Tate guy can really write some good songs. Later guys - press on.

Song Spotlight: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

Song Title: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Artist: The Rolling Stones
Album: Out Of Our Heads
Writer: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards

I can't get no satisfaction,
I can't get no satisfaction.
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try.
I can't get no, I can't get no.

When I'm drivin' in my car
and that man comes on the radio
and he's tellin' me more and more
about some useless information
supposed to drive my imagination.
I can't get no, oh no no no.
Hey hey hey, that's what I say.

I can't get no satisfaction,
I can't get no satisfaction.
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try.
I can't get no, I can't get no.

When I'm watchin' my TV
and a man comes on to tell me
how white my shirts can be.
Well he can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke
the same cigarrettes as me.
I can't get no, oh no no no.
Hey hey hey, that's what I say.

I can't get no satisfaction,
I can't get no girl reaction.
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try.
I can't get no, I can't get no.

When I'm ridin' round the world
and I'm doin' this and I'm signing that
and I'm tryin' to make some girl
who tells me baby better come back later next week
'cause you see I'm on losing streak.
I can't get no, oh no no no.
Hey hey hey, that's what I say.

I can't get no, I can't get no,
I can't get no satisfaction,
no satisfaction, no satisfaction, no satisfaction.

Why this song: Who needs to write about great hymns when we have songs like these? I'm not totally sure what made this song pop into my head for starters, but to put it on my blog is yet another step. But I really think there's a lot to write about here. After all, millions more people will recognize this song more than they would some obscure hymn from my music library. The main reason for choosing this song is to add a different flavor to the blog. Enjoy.

Why I like it: Well, actually, I don't really like it that much, but I'm trying to keep the same spotlight template I've used for song and hymn spotlights before. Just because I'm not a huge fan of this song doesn't mean we can't find something useful. Let me begin by pointing out what a culture change we've gone through in 40 years: a song that was deemed controversial because of its anti-commercialism and sexually explicit lyrics is now appearing on a conservative Christian blog. And actually, I guess because I've grown up hearing much worse, this song didn't seem too bad to me. I'll have to agree with the anti-commercialism theme in this song for I'm not a big fan of commercialism, and for the most part, commercials are a load of lies made to deceive the public into 1.) believing a lie, 2.) spending money where it doesn't need to be spent, or 3.) questioning their self-worth. And it's no surprise to me that the topic of sex surfaces when singing a song about a lack of satisfaction. I'm just surprised drugs aren't referenced. A large reason for the downward spiral of our current culture, I believe, is rooted in a lack of satisfaction and an attempt to find it in temporary pleasures.

Related Scripture: Esther 5:9-13, Ecclesiastes 3:12-14, Psalm 145:15-17, Isaiah 55:1-3, Proverbs 5:18-20, Micah 6:13-15, Luke 6:21

Favorite line: "Cause I try and I try and I try and I try" -- Well, you would think that after the first try and the second try (both failures), you would try something else. Satisfaction in this world has nothing to do with trying -- but oh how our natures want to refute this. Satisfaction is more about relying than trying, but relying on commercials will leave you deceived, relying on temporary pleasures will leave you empty, relying on people will leave you betrayed, and relying on yourself will end in a mess. 40+ years have passed since this song was released, and people are still trying - instead of relying on Christ for satisfaction. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied (Matthew 5:6)."