A quote from JF

There seems to be a running theme in these last bunch of entries (inconsistent as they may be). They all, in one way or another, reference Jon Foreman. Sorry, Jon, I'm really not a stalker-- haha. His words, though, have a way of resonating deep in my soul and I've really appreciated reading his lyrics, his tweets, and his op-ed pieces. It is from one of these op-ed (see the link at the bottom of the page) that I draw the following quote (portions in bold are those that deeply resonate with me):

"The artist is a bridge between despair and hope. The artist, more than anyone else is responsible for the re-creation, re-definition and re-thinking the world around us. Every poem, every song, every painting has tremendous possibility. Each of these creations could be a letter of resignation to The World That Is or a window into The World That Is Not. Each poem/painting/song could be a vehicle to a new reality, one in which the artist plays a part no matter how small. The artist paints a world into existence. The canvas, the paint, the brush--these known quantities of existence and reality are tools for stepping into the unknown.
The notes of the song are a bridge from what is to what is not yet."

There are so many things in this quote that I wish I had the energy to respond to. All I can manage to say right now is that my heart longs for this in a way that defies my not inconsiderable ability to articulate it (*pat pat* good ego, gooood ego!). If there is one thing that I am continuously frustrated by during my graduate school experience, it is the lack of time to be truly creative. Deep down, I recognize myself as an artist more than anything else. But the creative side in me has been so neglected over these last few years that I feel like the very core of me is completely neglected and so I've been coasting on fumes the last few years instead of a full tank.

Creative Matt, I miss you.

Hear my prayer

This is a song by my favorite songwriter, Jon Foreman, in his band Fiction Family. These lyrics are the lyrics that have been bleeding out of my heart for as long as I can remember.

Mostly

This is darkest day I've seen
I can't find an opening
I've never felt this rage in me
I've never known this anger

I'm feeling like a curse
I feel like I'm getting worse
I'm bored with war and songs
I've been bitter far too long
Come on prove me long

And tell me I'm no longer
And tell me I'm not crazy
Well maybe just a little bit
Maybe just a little bit crazy
But mostly prove me wrong

They're up to something in my head
I can hear them taunting me
Thanks for nothing imagined friends
I can hear you laughing

I feel like a hearse
Like I'm carrying dead hurts
I'm tired of being right
I'm retiring from that fight
Hey come on prove me wrong

And tell my I'm no longer
Tell me I'm not crazy
Or maybe just a little bit
Maybe just a little bit crazy
But mostly prove me wrong

I'm feeling like a bomb
Like I'm screwing up my song
It's like I don't belong
No point in going on
Hey come on prove me wrong

Tell me I'm not crazy
Or maybe just a little bit
Maybe just a little bit crazy
But mostly prove me wrong

Switchfoot Pictures

Switchfoot

I've liked Switchfoot for years. I wasn't the biggest fan, but I did like them a lot. But then, starting in 2007, I discovered Jon Foreman's solo EPs. The songwriting on those records was so outstanding that I instantly fell in love with them. Because of them, I went back and relistened to my Switchfoot albums, paying more attention to the craftmanship (both lyrical and musical). I realized that few bands could have such depth and originality and sense to their songs. Then their new album, Hello Hurricane, came out. It is a fantastic album. It was so good that the wife and I decided to drop $50 to go see Switchfoot in Austin this week. It was a great show. Once I finish editing, I'll upload some pictures as well as a review of the new album. But until then, here are two videos that I took. These two songs are two parts of a "trilogy" of songs: "Let Your Love be Strong", "Your Love is Strong" and "Your Love is a Song". The latter two are below. Enjoy!

Prayer of Adoration

Prayer of Adoration
Dayspring Baptist Church, 4 October 2009

Our gracious and loving God,
You alone are worthy of receiving all praise and adoration.
Yet how reluctantly praises come to our lips. We are quick to complain, quick to be disappointed, quicker to cry “Encore!” than to shout “Blessed be your name!”
Yet if we are silent, the rocks, the very limestone that shapes this land, will cry out.
So Lord, we come before you, King, Savior, Giver of life
We look to enter the chorus of praise for which we were created-- we recognize that it is our calling to magnify your name for as long as we are gifted with breath.

Let the praises of the heavenly hosts, those thousands upon thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand, be ours this morning; may we in one small church in Waco, Texas, enter into the eternal melody of adoration of the heavenlies:
“Worthy, worthy, is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
We confess that you, our God, are worthy-- beyond worthy-- to receive all praise. Therefore:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever!”
We praise and adore you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. May adoration be the air that we breathe, today and all days, for you deserve nothing less. Amen.

Prayer of Thanksgiving: Lent 2009

Our most holy and gracious God, we come before you as a people for whom the prayer of thanksgiving does not come naturally or easily.
We are quick to complain and slow to give thanks. Use this time, Father, to create in us the discipline and the habit of thanksgiving. As we take just a few moments to be intentional in giving thanks, we pray that you, Lord, will be glorified as our hearts and minds testify to your goodness.
Let us offer a few moments of silent thanksgiving to our Lord...
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Lord, for all the blessings of this life, we thank you with gratitude for your abundant grace.
For all the trials of this life, we thank you in faith for the promise of renewal and restoration.
In this time of Lent, we thank you, Jesus, for the 40 days you were tempted in the desert.
We thank you, Lord Christ, that because of your 40 days of fasting, our 40 days are lived in the strong presence of a high priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15).
We give you thanks, Holy Trinity, that you promise your people who dwell now in this season of ashes...
a garland instead of ashes/
the oil of gladness instead of mourning/
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit
We give thanks to you, God, for the work you are doing in us during this season of Lent. We give thanks to you in advance for the beauty of the transformation you are bringing about in our lives through this season. All glory be yours, Father, Son and Holy Spirit divine. Amen.

Today

Today is glorious. The weather is perfect. Clear skies. Clean, cool air. Sunny with a light breeze. Hardly a cloud in the sky. This is a day when I am glad, so glad, to be alive. Not even my depression can withstand the quiet joys that flood me on a day like today. Hallelujah-- praise the Lord!