The Kevlar Beard

Cantatrice

Misunderstanding. Misunderstanding, misunderstanding.
Are we stationed here among another thing?
Sometimes I wonder.
After the lightning, this afternoon, came thunder:
the natural world makes sense: cats hate water
and love fish.

Fish, plankton, bats’ radar, the sense of fish
who glide up the coast of South America
and head for Gibraltar.
How do they know it’s there? We call this instinct
by which we dream we know what instinct is,
like misunderstanding.

I was soft on a green girl once and we smiled across
and married, childed. Never did we truly take in
one burning wing.
Henry flounders. What is the name of that fish?
So better organized than we are oh.
Sing to me that name, enchanter, sing!

the slow motion sneeze:

This is a fascinating video about a deaf percussionist. She talks about how music needs to be felt. It’s a bit long, but really interesting:

Okay, here is my first contribution to OurCC. It has taken me a while, but at least I got around to it! This is one of the first worship songs I have ever written. The recording is very rough, but I think the thought/sentiment gets conveyed.

Click here to listen

Lyrics:

Dear Lord,  May I be loving and faithful, always displaying your will.

Keep me safe in your arms while the world is reaching out further away

Shine a Light Through Me

Set My Spirit free

That my sould may sing

Your name

Dear Lord, May I be thankful and gracious, I don’t deserve anything.

Willing, Lord I’m your vessel for shaping, I’ll carry your word to the earth.

(chorus)

Hallelujah to your name.

I think I just found the ultimate photo of me lurking. This is from back when I lived in Wisconsin Rapids. I was in High School. Boo ya:

Quick note: Check out my friend Andrea’s music. I really love her voice and songwriting! This is the same person that sang on this post.

Click here

I bind unto myself today
The strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever,
By power of faith, Christ’s Incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan River;
His death on cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of the Cherubim;
The sweet ‘Well done’ in judgment hour;
The service of the Seraphim,
Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word,
The Patriarchs’ prayers, the Prophets’ scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart’s idolatry,
Against the wizard’s evil craft,
Against the death-wound and the burning
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name,
The strong name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but is the point of corporate worship at churches to be as broad-reaching as possible? It seems like everything is put together with the intent of pleasing as many different ears as possible. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think there is anything wrong with this intention or thought process, but I wonder if it’s a bit self-defeating. Rather than making something with the sole intent of marketability, shouldn’t it be just simply an organic hunger for God? In my opinion, church culture needs to change, not the art/outpouring of creativity. People need to walk through those doors and realize it’s not there to make just them happy, it’s there for community. We need to learn tolerance and selflessness I think.

Sorry if this post comes off as negative, I was just thinking about this subject, especially after this amazing weekend with DCSM. I need to examine my own heart and intentions when I go to my community. We’re all in this thing together.

I was just thinking about the character of Christ and how He would live and breath in these modern times. I read a quote from my friend Jeremy Ritch that said:

“It is easy to point at race and “say yes we should be equals!” but what about other groups. The marginalized that seem to live out of sight. The homeless, the mentally ill, the drug addicts, or the prostitutes. These are all folks Jesus would have made a point to know and assure them that despite their lifestyle they too could be saved.

Do we seek out the marginalized, or do we simply co-exist? It seems to me that Jesus would have been pretty aggressive in making sure that everyone knew about salvation and the love that was freely available to them. No strings attached. In my life, I need to be seeking out the people that need to know His love, and displaying it. It’s much easier said than done, but it’s also our reason for being here.

Does this mean that we accept all actions? Of course not. My point is that our aggression should be focused on making people aware of salvation, not correcting their ways. People need to experience love, not the kind of love where they need to change to participate in it, the kind of love that they experience first and then in turn changes them.

Love,
Josh