Day 18: A song you wish you heard on the radio.
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
On Doubt & Skepticism
I'm a Christian or at least I fancy myself one. However, I've spent years as an atheist and more years as an agnostic. I wasn't brought up in the church, was never baptized, never went to confirmation, and never read the Bible until my late 20s or early 30s. I doubted. Doubt is uncomfortable.
As I eventually felt the pull toward faith (which I can't really explain, and there may actually be a scientific explanation for), my doubt became even more uncomfortable. It's difficult to come to terms with ideas that many people accept at face value, and part of that may be because of their history in the church. As I learned more and read more perspectives on the subject, I became even more conflicted.
Making a list of things that I've decided that I do or don't believe in would be pretty tedious to write and for you to read, so I'll spare you. What's more important is that I became comfortable in my unbelief of certain things and have found that many of the details of Christianity have become less crucial. Like it or not, many of the details in the Bible are unprovable or are in direct conflict with other details.
What's more important, in my opinion, are the concepts of love and community. By focusing on these truths, I've learned to sit with my doubt and skepticism.
As I eventually felt the pull toward faith (which I can't really explain, and there may actually be a scientific explanation for), my doubt became even more uncomfortable. It's difficult to come to terms with ideas that many people accept at face value, and part of that may be because of their history in the church. As I learned more and read more perspectives on the subject, I became even more conflicted.
Making a list of things that I've decided that I do or don't believe in would be pretty tedious to write and for you to read, so I'll spare you. What's more important is that I became comfortable in my unbelief of certain things and have found that many of the details of Christianity have become less crucial. Like it or not, many of the details in the Bible are unprovable or are in direct conflict with other details.
What's more important, in my opinion, are the concepts of love and community. By focusing on these truths, I've learned to sit with my doubt and skepticism.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
30 day song challenge #17
A song you hear often on the radio: "Sportcenter theme" - Annie Roboff
I listen to a bit of ESPN radio and hear this quite often. Lame huh?
I listen to a bit of ESPN radio and hear this quite often. Lame huh?
Saturday, April 30, 2011
30 Day Song Challenge: Day 16
A song that you used to love but now still love: Loup River Band and Street Choir "Seventeen"
This is technically supposed to be a song that I used to love but now hate. However, we've already done the hate/dislike thing in this challenge so I'm changing it. This is off my old band's last record and it's essentially my friend Jeff Iwanski with his guitar and harmonica. Gorgeous.
My friend Josh was gracious enough to put the song to video.
This is technically supposed to be a song that I used to love but now hate. However, we've already done the hate/dislike thing in this challenge so I'm changing it. This is off my old band's last record and it's essentially my friend Jeff Iwanski with his guitar and harmonica. Gorgeous.
My friend Josh was gracious enough to put the song to video.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
30 day song challenge #15
A song that describes you: Blondie "Dreaming"
Embedding for this one has been disabled, but you can listen to it here.
Embedding for this one has been disabled, but you can listen to it here.
Monday, April 25, 2011
30 Day Song Challenge: Day 13
A song that is a guilty pleasure: I don't really feel guilty about liking anything. You shouldn't either.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
30 Day Song Challenge: Day 12
A song from a band you hate: Alabama "Song of the South"
I'm sort of a live-and-let-live person when it comes to music, so I can't really say that I hate this band, they're really just not my cup of tea. Actually, they're probably across the street and down a couple blocks from my cup of tea. You might have to click through to watch this on youtube if you want to listen to it. Only a sick, sick person would want to do that though.
I'm sort of a live-and-let-live person when it comes to music, so I can't really say that I hate this band, they're really just not my cup of tea. Actually, they're probably across the street and down a couple blocks from my cup of tea. You might have to click through to watch this on youtube if you want to listen to it. Only a sick, sick person would want to do that though.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
30 Day Song Challenge: Day 11
A song from your favorite band: The Old 97's "Salome"
I don't do the whole "favorite band" thing, but if I did these guys would be right up there.
I don't do the whole "favorite band" thing, but if I did these guys would be right up there.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
30 day song challenge #9
A song that you can dance to: Something really easy like "The Chicken Dance." And it would have to be played kind of slow so I could keep up.
I've got nothing on Bristol Palin.
I've got nothing on Bristol Palin.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
30 Day Song Challenge: Day 8
A song you know all the words to: Gene Hogan "Girls At The Grocery Store"
My friend Jeff said that he wanted a song with the line, "all the girls at the grocery store, man, they look so pretty" in it, and it ended up as the chorus to this one.
I will shamelessly self-promote if I wanna!
My friend Jeff said that he wanted a song with the line, "all the girls at the grocery store, man, they look so pretty" in it, and it ended up as the chorus to this one.
I will shamelessly self-promote if I wanna!
Friday, April 15, 2011
30 Day Song Challenge : Day 7
A song that reminds you of an event: Whiskeytown "Houses on the Hill"
I saw these guys at the Ranch Bowl in Omaha in the late 1990s. I'm not sure of the year, but it was on (a very drunk) Ryan Adams's birthday. They started the show with a Replacements song, and played a few songs before Ryan Adams declared that "it sucked, so we're going to start over." They replayed the Replacements song and when Ryan Adams immediately began the song again, Caitlin Cary stormed off the stage followed by the rest of the band.
Ryan Adams returned a few minutes later telling everyone that "they're pissed because I'm drunk." He then went on to play a 10 minute version of an early song of theirs, making up new words as he went along. I suppose it's a testament to his lyrical ability, because the lyrics weren't terrible. The band eventually joined him onstage and the rest of the show was great. There were two or three acoustic songs (including this one) at the end where Ryan and Caitlin sat on the edge of the stage and played acoustically and without microphones while the crowd gathered around. I had been in front of the stage for most of the show, so I was an arm's length away from them at the end.
Ryan Adams? Three feet away? With his acoustic guitar and fiddle accompaniment? Yep, it happened.
I saw these guys at the Ranch Bowl in Omaha in the late 1990s. I'm not sure of the year, but it was on (a very drunk) Ryan Adams's birthday. They started the show with a Replacements song, and played a few songs before Ryan Adams declared that "it sucked, so we're going to start over." They replayed the Replacements song and when Ryan Adams immediately began the song again, Caitlin Cary stormed off the stage followed by the rest of the band.
Ryan Adams returned a few minutes later telling everyone that "they're pissed because I'm drunk." He then went on to play a 10 minute version of an early song of theirs, making up new words as he went along. I suppose it's a testament to his lyrical ability, because the lyrics weren't terrible. The band eventually joined him onstage and the rest of the show was great. There were two or three acoustic songs (including this one) at the end where Ryan and Caitlin sat on the edge of the stage and played acoustically and without microphones while the crowd gathered around. I had been in front of the stage for most of the show, so I was an arm's length away from them at the end.
Ryan Adams? Three feet away? With his acoustic guitar and fiddle accompaniment? Yep, it happened.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
30 Day Song Challenge: Day 6
A song that reminds you of somewhere: The Cure "Letter to Elise"
The passenger seat of my friend Shannon's car during our senior year of high school.
The passenger seat of my friend Shannon's car during our senior year of high school.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
30 day song challenge #4
A song that makes you sad: Damien Jurado "Lose My Head"
This song makes me a little sad, but it's so, so great.
This song makes me a little sad, but it's so, so great.
Saturday, April 09, 2011
30 Day Song Challenge: Day 3
A song that makes you happy: Paul Simon "Graceland"
I heard Paul Simon say that "Graceland" was the greatest song that he ever wrote.
I heard Paul Simon say that "Graceland" was the greatest song that he ever wrote.
Friday, April 08, 2011
30 Day Song Challenge (or) HALP! I've Been Sucked In!
Enough of my friends are doing this and it looked like fun. Instead of using Facebook, this seemed like a good use for my (sort of) neglected blog.
Day 1: Your favorite song - Son Volt "Windfall"
The 1995 or so released Trace is my favorite record and this, the first track on the record, is my favorite song. I think it's absolutely perfect. This isn't the album version, but it's pretty dang good.
Day 1: Your favorite song - Son Volt "Windfall"
The 1995 or so released Trace is my favorite record and this, the first track on the record, is my favorite song. I think it's absolutely perfect. This isn't the album version, but it's pretty dang good.
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