Charlie Peacock

I never get tired of listening to this guy. His work is so varied and diverse. He blends pop, rock, gospel, electronic/techno, soul and classical, all with underlying overtones of jazz. (Can you say underlying overtones and have it make sense??)

Though all of his albums have great songs on them, many of which have been covered by some major artists (such as Amy Grant, dc Talk, Russ Taff etc), his debut album "Lie Down In The Grass" will always be my favorite. It ranks in my top-10 favorite albums. It's pretty old, having been first released in 1984. Yes, I still have the record.

He's had an impact on a ton of other musicians as well. He's produced the likes of Switchfoot, Nichole Nordeman, the 77s, Avalon, The Choir, Al Green, Twila Paris and Sarah Masen, and others. He's worked with Steve Taylor. 'Nuf said.
His eclectic style is full of vibrant energy and passion, as are the lyrics of his songs. Often directed at Christians, the songs are honest and pointed about this Human Condition we find ourselves in.

I think his best song, and a song that is definately in my top-10 best of all time is The Harvest Is The End Of The World. Every other post on the internet that I've found referencing this song says it is 'joyous'. I tend to agree. I had to look up the scripture related to this song, so that I could really, fully understand what he's saying in it.

Jeremiah 31:
15 This is what the LORD says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more." 16 This is what the LORD says: "Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded," declares the LORD. "They will return from the land of the enemy. 17 So there is hope for your future, "declares the LORD. "Your children will return to their own land.

Matthew 2:
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18 "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

Matthew 13:
36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."
37 He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
40 "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Revelation 14:
14 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one "like a son of man" with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." 16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe." 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath. 20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses' bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.

THE HARVEST IS THE END OF THE WORLD - Charlie Peacock
Rachel, why do you weep
Why do you bury your face in your hands
Is there no one who would reach you
Is there no one who understands

There is no one to comfort her
(There is no one to comfort her)

For her children are no more
And there is no one to comfort her

Rachel, why do you cry
Why do you hide your trembling lips
Are those tear stains on your brow
Are those tears on your fingertips

There is no one to comfort her
(There is no one to comfort her)
For her children are no more
And there is no one to comfort her

Now and always, Now and evermore
Now and always, Now and evermore

I see angels in the distance
In the distance, I see angels
And their shadows fall like crosses on the fields

Some are swinging low their sickles
Some are binding up the sheaves
Some are sifting out the harvest yield

Rachel, run to join the angels
In the harvest in the distance
Rising from your bed as from a dream

In that faint and splintered line
Where the wheatfield meets the sky
You might find your sorrow made complete
You might find your sorrow made complete

Now and always, Now and evermore
Now and always, Now and evermore

Redemption is the harvest
Of the tears that came before

Now and always, Now and evermore

All who sorrow with her, lift your heads
You might hear the sound of Rachel gently weeping
For the gathering is done
And her children have come home
Whom she counted lost and dead
Now to find were sweetly sleeping
In the fields where the angels have been reaping

I see angels in the distance
In the distance, I see angels
And their shadows fall like crosses on the fields

Some are swinging low their sickles
Some are binding up the sheaves
Some are sifting out the harvest yield

Rachel, run to join the angels
In the harvest in the distance
Rising from your bed as from a dream

In that faint and splintered line
Where the wheatfield meets the sky
You might find your sorrow made complete
You might find your sorrow made complete

Now and always, now and evermore
Now and always, now and evermore

Redemption is the harvest
Of the tears that came before.

Now and always, now and evermore
Now and always, now and evermore

Redemption is the harvest
Of the tears that came before.

Now and always, now and evermore
Now and always, now and evermore...

Who's having more fun???

Ok so here I am sitting in the sound room at church during choir practice for the upcoming Easter thing. The 'choir' is up there and they all look like they are in a funeral rather than practicing for the celebration of the Resurrection.

Meanwhile, I'm back here jamming out with my iPod, listening to stuff like Mat Kearney, Coldplay, Stryper, Foolish Things, etc...

I must ask...Who's having more fun??

In The Name Of Love...

Wow. This(U2/3D) was a very cool experience.

I was very impressed by the 3D effect and the digital picture. If the sound had been more like a real concert, I think it really would have been better than being at a concert. This movie reminded my why U2 is my favorite band, and confirmed why they are still the biggest band in the world.

I also think that they are a band blessed by God. A lot of people find them controversial because they have been seen smoking and drinking and using foul language, but they seem to forget the amazing things that they have done through things like the One organization and the like. If we are going to judge them based on smoking and drinking and using foul language, then let us be judged in the same measure.

Three of the band members, Bono, Larry and The Edge have proclaimed Christ as their savior since they were young. The 4th, Adam, only within the past few years has claimed to be saved. Who are we to judge their salvation?

If you look at their lyrics, you will see tons of scripture, subtle and not so subtle. Who else has recited Psalms during their halftime show at the Superbowl? Bono quotes scripture often from the stage. My favorite is when he quotes Psalm 116:12-14 (The Message) during the intro to "Where the Streets Have No Name" in Boston:

"What can I give back to God for the blessings he's poured out on me? I'll lift high the cup of salvation—a toast to God! I'll pray in the name of God; I'll complete what I promised God I'd do, and I'll do it together with his people."

Here's an old article that kinda sums it up. There's a lot more to say, but this does a good job of putting it in a nutshell: U2, Christian?

This is cool too: Godtube

“I’d be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge…It doesn’t excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for Grace. I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity…I love the idea of the Sacrificial Lamb…The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us [Karma], and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That’s the point. It should keep us humbled…It’s not our own good works that get us through the gates of Heaven.” [Bono in Conversation, Riverhead Books, 2005, p. 204]

U2/3D

May is the month!!!

There are a ton of great new realeases coming out in May.
Several movies, to include :

• The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian


• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull


• Iron man

There's also some great CD's coming out as well. Not the least of which:

Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music?

Larry Norman

4/8/1947 - 2/24/2008

A legend died on Sunday. Larry was a pioneer in Christian music. Often called the "Grandfather" of Christian Rock, Larry had a profound influence on many Christian artists over the past 40+ years. I've been enjoying his music since the early '80's.

It is, in a way, Larry's fault that I became a lover of music, especially Christian music. Back in 1970, Larry lead Randy Stonehill to the Lord. Randy, known as one of the 'Fathers' of Christian rock, went on to create some great Christian music. The very first Christian record I ever owned was Randy Stonehill's "The Sky Is Falling" (I still have it, too). Larry produced, sang background vocals and played various instruments on this album . After loving this album and reading the liner notes, seeing Larry's name all over the place, I figured I better check out this Larry guy since he seemed to have a lot of influence on this recording. So I bought one of Larry's tapes and have been a big fan ever since.

I only got to see Larry live once, at Cherry Hills Community church in Denver, Colorado. It was an amazing concert.

His second solo album, Only Visiting This Planet, has been voted the best Christian album of all time by CCM magazine.

Larry was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

The following credit Larry with influencing them in one way or another:

• Randy Stonehill


• Steve Camp


• Mark Heard


• Toby Mac/dc Talk


• Frank Black of the Pixies


• U2


• Pete Townshend had been inspired by one of Larry's early rock operas to write Tommy*


• "It’s often said that Bob Dylan was heavily influenced by his music during his “Christian period,” and even attended Larry’s Bible study while on tour."*


• Too many more to mention.

*These claims I have not been able to confirm, but they are mentioned in multiple websites that I've found.

I think Larry summed up Christian Rock music best in the following words:

Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music? - Larry Norman

I want the people to know that He saved my soul
But I still like to listen to the radio.
They say rock 'n' roll is wrong, we'll give you one more chance.
I say I feel so good I gotta get up and dance.

I know what's right, I know what's wrong, I don't confuse it.
All I'm really trying to say
Is why should the devil have all the good music?

I feel good every day'
Cause Jesus is the rock and he rolled my blues away.

They say to cut my hair, they're driving me insane,
I grew it out long to make room for my brain.
But sometimes people just don't understand,
What's a good boy doing in a rock 'n' roll band?

There's nothing wrong with playing blues licks,
But if you got a scripture, tell me to my face
Why should the devil have all the good music?

There's nothing wrong with what I play'
Cause Jesus is the rock and he rolled my blues away.

I ain't knocking the hymns,
Just give me a song that has a beat.
I ain't knocking the hymns,
Just give me a song that moves my feet.
I don't like none of those funeral marches
I ain't dead yet!

Jesus told the truth,
Jesus showed the way
There's one more thing I'd like to say.
They nailed him to the cross,
they laid him in the ground,
But they shoulda known you can't keep a good man down.

I feel good every day, I don't wanna lose it.
All I wanna, all I wanna know
Is why should the devil have all the good music?

I've been filled, I feel okay,
Jesus is the rock and he rolled my blues
Jesus is the rock and he rolled my blues
Jesus is the rock and he rolled my blues away.

---

See ya, Larry. Thanks for everything.

Chris Rice

The past couple of years I've really enjoyed Chris Rice's music. He writes a lot of catchy tunes that you can tap your foot to, and his lyrics are clever, funny and very profound. To me, it's happy music. It sounds like he's happy, and it makes me happy to listen to it. This is one guy I'd love to sit down to dinner with and just have a long converstation about life.

I don't think I've heard a song yet that I didn't like (although there are some that I have to be in a certain mood to listen to). I even use a portion of one, Smile, as a ringtone on my phone.

One song in particular that I'd like to mention in more detail: Life Means So Much.

The message of this song is one I'm desperately trying to learn. Every moment of our lives means something. Is it a blessing or a curse? Are we lifting up or tearing down? Are we investing or squandering? Unfortunately, too often it's the negative.

I'm really trying hard to learn that every moment I have with my family is precious and can't be retrieved once lost. I've been trying to spend more time with them, be nicer to them, be a good dad and a good husband. Unfortunately, I fail all too often.

Life Means So Much - Chris Rice

Every day is a journal page
Every man holds a quill and ink
And there's plenty of room for writing in
All we do and believe and think
So will you compose a curse
Or will today bring the blessings
Fill the page with rhyming verse
Or some random sketching

Teach us to count the days
Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways
That somehow our souls forgot
Life means so much
Life means so much
Life means so much

Every day is a bank account
And time is our currency
So no one's rich, nobody's poor
We get 24 hours each
So how are you gonna spend
Will you invest, or squander
Try to get ahead
Or help someone who's under

Teach us to count the days
Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways
That somehow our souls forgot
Life means so much
Life means so much
Life means so much

Has anybody ever lived who knew the value of a life
And don't you think giving is all
What proves the worth of yours and mine

Teach us to count the days
Teach us to make the days count
Lead us in better ways
That somehow our souls forgot
Life means so much
Life means so much
Life means so much

Every day is a gift you've been given
Make the most of the time every minute you're living

My New Band (sorta...)

the latest internet meme (fad) that’s going around is the band album cover theme. You pick random words and pictures from Wikipedia and Flickr and combine them to create your custom band album. It goes like this:
1. The first article title on the Wikipedia Random Articles Page is the name of your band.
2. The last four words of the very last quotation on the Random Quotations page is the title of your album.
3. The third picture in Flickr’s Interesting Photos From the Last 7 Days is your album cover.Throw in some Photoshop and mix to get your own album cover.

My Band
Band Name: This Disambiguation
Album Name: If You Just Trusted Yourself
Cover: