On the Way

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
~ Psalm 84:5

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Interview with Jon Foreman at Point Loma Nazarene University - 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rcZI8xFlqY

Lonely Nation

She turns like the ocean
She tells no emotion
She’s been gunning down the fight
She’s just reminiscing
Blood, sweat, and one thing’s missing
She’s been breaking up inside, inside

Singing without tongues, screaming without lungs
I want more than my lonely nation,
I want more than my lonely nation
Desperate we are young. Separate we are one.
I want more than my desperation.
I want more than my lonely nation.

We are the target market. We set the corporate target.
We are slaves of what we want.
We’re just numb and amused and we’re just used to bad news and
We are slaves of what we want

Lonely, lonely

Don’t leave me hollow. I’m tired.
Don’t leave me hollow.
I’m tired of feeling low, of feeling hollow.
I’m tired of feeling low, of feeling hollow.

Written by Jon Foreman and Tim Foreman. All songs ©2005 Meadowgreen Music Company and Sugar Pete Songs / All right administered by EMI CMG Publishing (ASCAP). All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Behind the Song:
“Desperate times call for desperate measures. Over the course our time on the road as a band I have met so many amazing, beautiful, desperate, lonely people. We are the lonely nation. We are the disenchanted, the disillusioned- we are the remnant of lonely souls wanting more than anything that we can buy with this cold, hard cash. I wrote this song while we were playing a stretch of rock radio shows. I'd walk around near the back and just breathe in the loneliness- masses of lonely, scared kids. I remember thinking about the irony. Here you have this connected generation of online communities, IM, TM, myspace, and cell phones that grows more and more lonely every day. This is a song is still yearning, saying, "Don't settle, please, don't give up. Fight for only the true and the beautiful!" We wanted to start the record with this track because we feel that this song picks up where Meant to Live left off. There is hope for meaning and truth in this life but it probably doesn't come in the form of a corporate slogan. We, the target market, want more than this world has to offer. This is a song where tim and chad drive the verses and the guitars take the chorus. We've played this song many times live and refined it quite a bit from it's original state. There's nothing like playing a new song in front of real people with real opinions. The people at those shows, (the extended switchfoot family), they shaped this song as much as anyone.” – Jon Foreman (Switchfoot)

taken from http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/lyrics/new/track.asp?track_id=11116

the darkness of unknowing

"It is a darkness of unknowing that lies between you and your God ... He whom [no one] ... can grasp by knowledge can be embraced by love."
From The Cloud of Unknowing
cited in Quiet in His Presence by Jan Harris

Daisy


Daisy give yourself away
Look up at the rain, the beautiful display of power and surrender
Giving us today when she gives herself away

Rain, another rainy day
Comes up from the ocean, to give herself away
She comes down easy on rich and debt the same when

Let it go, daisy let it go
Open up your fist this fallen world
Doesn’t hold your interest, it doesn’t hold your soul
Daisy let it go

Pain, give yourself a name
Call yourself contrition, avarice or shame
Giving isn’t easy, neither is the rain when she gives herself away

Daisy why another day
Why another sunrise. Who will take the blame
For all redemptive motion and every rainy day
He gives himself away

Let it go, daisy let it go
Let it go…

Written by Jon Foreman. All songs ©2005 Meadowgreen Music Company and Sugar Pete Songs / All right administered by EMI CMG Publishing (ASCAP). All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Behind the Song:
“Ah, daisy! sweet daisy... this one is my wife's favorite. I wrote it a while ago yet somehow it didn't make it onto the last record. I'm really thankful it didn't; I don't think we were ready for it then. Some songs age like wine and others age like milk finding a sour, over-thought, overproduced end. This one lasted for a long time and kept getting better. I feel really great about how it came out. In fact the end of the tune might be my favorite rock moment on the record, ironic because the beginning of the tune is anything but rock- so sparse and pretty. Because of the different tuning, it's a pain to get the guitar back to normal afterwards so we've never played this one live. I want to wait for just the right moment. I remember chad was hitting so hard on this one that he ended up breaking the kick pedal on the last hit of the song, he shouts out,'I think I broke the kick pedal!' We ended up cutting it out for the record because it seemed a little camp. Maybe we'll put it up online or something, because it needs to be heard. Classic Chad: the man with the iron foot strikes again!

For me, this is an appropriate way to finish the record- A song about letting go. When we're making an album I tend to go into this mode where all I think about is the record, the record, the record- in very unhealthy ways at times. I usually put a lot of pressure on myself because the music means so much to me. but like everything else, a record has a beginning and an end. You have to put the brush down and walk away. I'm not sure I've done that yet but I'm working on it! I've heard it said that a record is never completed, you just move on to the next one. I'm very proud of this record and feel like this is better than anything we've done so far and yet I'm anxious to beat it. Thanks for listening and thanks for reading.” – Jon Foreman (Switchfoot)

Somebody's Baby ~ Jon Foreman

I heard this song for the first time tonight; it moved me to tears with compassion.  My first job out of college was with the homeless mentally ill.  Today, I talked with a man I met at a park about a week ago; he's been kicked out of the place he was staying and will be having to stay at the Mission.  My heart goes out to him and I want to help him; Jim (I'll call him) is a new friend who loves God, is loved by God.  Jesus loves the "losers" like Jim, me and you--thanks be to God!

Lyrics to Somebody's Baby :
She screams

If you're homeless you'd sure as hell you'd be drunk

Or high or trying to get there or begging for junk

When people don't want you they just throw you money for beer

Her name is November she went by Autumn or Fall

It was seven long years since the Autumn

When all of her nightmares grew fingers

And all of her dreams grew tears



She's somebody's baby

Somebody's baby girl

She's somebody's baby

Somebody's baby girl

She's somebody's baby still



She says

Well if you've never gone it alone

Well then go ahead, you better throw the first stone

You got one lonely stoner waiting to bring to her knees

She dreams about Heaven, remembering Hell

As the place that she visits and knows all to well

Every now and again, when she's hopeful she brushes her teeth



She's somebody's baby

Somebody's baby girl

She's somebody's baby

Somebody's baby girl

She's somebody's baby still



Today was her birthday, strangely enough

When the cops found her body at the foot of the bluff

The anonymous caller this morning tipped off the police

They got her ID from the dental remains

The same fillings intact, the same nicotine stains

The birth and the death were both over

With no one to grieve



She's somebody's baby

Somebody's baby girl

She's somebody's baby

Somebody's baby girl

She's somebody's baby still
[ Somebody's Baby Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]

Motivations for living the Jesus-life

"In difficult times, the realization that there are no other options can cause us to cling to the Lord.  A second motivator is the fear of the Lord, which involves a holy fear of his displeasure. (not necessarily hers or anyone else's -she is not Jesus though I must try to discern when God is speaking through her, certainly!).  The third biblical motivator is a growing response of love and gratitude as we come to see God's gracious actions and provisions in new ways.  Scripture also encourages us to pursue the rewards that our Lord will give to those who have been faithful to the opportunities they have been given.  As we grow in our understanding of our security and significance in Christ, we come to view sin as beneath our dignity we have in him.  A biblical sense of purpose and hope can also contribute to our spiritual fidelity.  Finally, the psalmist and great saints were also motivated by a longing for God above any of his gifts."

~ Ken Boa Conformed To His Image

Afraid of bad news?

For the righteous will never be moved;
he will be remembered forever.
He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.

~ Psalm 112:6-8

A former boss and friend relayed Psalm 112:7 to me soon after giving me some very bad news which devastated me and my family.  It seemed a cold slap in the face at the time.  I've come to treasure this passage though not always.  Sometimes, many times, I still live in fear of bad news.  And when the bad happens, I can be undone and my faith can be really tested.

Here's what the always helpful ESV Study Bible has to say:

Ps. 112:6–8 never be moved. See note on 15:5c; verses 7–8 of Psalm 112 describe his security. be remembered. By the people, just as they remember the Lord's own wondrous works (111:4), and perhaps by the Lord himself, who remembers his covenant forever (112:6). The righteous is not afraid of bad news, because he fears the Lord (112:1).

It really hurts when the answer is "No"!

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
~ Proverbs 13:12 (ESV)

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
(NIV)

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
(KJV)

13:12 Hope deferred - Delays in obtaining what a man passionately desires. The desire - The good desired. A tree of life - It is satisfactory, and reviving.
(Wesley's notes)


Thursday, March 25, 2010

Mexican Sun - Chevelle

Soon the stares catch We begin to kill the calm as we Feed on the facts let's give in Let's give in to give in more Still on the knees Such a shame The cat's up and run away Scratched at me first Then the boy Gonna panic for a little more Watch the tail boy Watch the tail Like to be feeling the sand Bring color Back to both my arms the sun Let it do damage like they said it Would if given chance Had to be shouting your voices Scheming devils Never make it through Hey way to go lad Can't wait to go Closing out all my tabs Tighten down the pitiful Leave you a pen Write it down Or you know what you can do With that Watch that tail boy Watch the tail Like to be feeling the sand Bring color Back to both my arms the sun Let it do damage like they said it Would if given chance Had to be shouting your voices Scheming devils Never make it through Hey way to go lad Can't wait to go Let's let the panic bloom Could help us all end up in the Clear Then let the havoc choose To shape us all, push us to invent We can feed off shame all day We could feed of shame all day Soon the stares catch We begin to kill the calm as we Feed on the facts let's give in Let's give in to give in more Like to be feeling the sand Bring color Back to both my arms the sun Let it do damage like they said it Would if given chance Had to be shouting your voices Scheming devils Never make it through Hey way to go lad Can't wait to go Hey way to go lad Can't wait to go. . .

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

the deepest blues are black - Foo Fighters (from In Your Honor)

Shame on you Seducing everyone Faded jewel Your diamond in the rough You don't have to tell me I know where you've been Shinning once again Will you do The thing you've always done Tell me true I think you know the one One that makes me blurry Colors starts to run Everytime I wonder I go under The deeper the blues The more I see black Sweet are the bruise the feeling starts coming back All the deepest blues are black How my mind is spinning And my head is going numb Right from the beginning Our ending had begun I can be your trouble Shiver into you Shaking like the thunder Sinking under The deeper the blues, the more I see black Sweet are the bruise, the feeling starts coming back All the deepest blues are, deepest blues are black When it comes closing in Reject Cause I gotta move And the simple things get in the openings Connect Become something new To remove The deeper the blues, the more I see black Sweet are the bruise, the feeling starts coming back All the deepest blues are, deepest blues are black The deeper the blues, the more i see the black Sweet are the bruise, the feeling starts coming back All the deepest blues are, deepest blues are black

Easter Wings - George Herbert

Lord, who createdst man in wealth and store, Though foolishly he lost the same, Decaying more and more, Till he became Most poore: With thee Oh let me rise As larks, harmoniously, And sing this day thy victories: Then shall the fall further the flight in me. My tender age in sorrow did beginne: And still with sicknesses and shame Thou didst so punish sinne, That I became Most thinne. With thee Let me combine And feel this day thy victorie: For, if I imp my wing on thine Affliction shall advance the flight in me.

I rise before dawn

With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord! I will keep your statutes. I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O Lord, according to your justice give me life. They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law. But you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true. Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever. ~ Psalm 119 Qoph

Monday, March 22, 2010

Proverbs 3 - Living Wisely

Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart 3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. 3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success [1] in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh [2] and refreshment [3] to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. 11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom 13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, 14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. 19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; 20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew. 21 My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, 22 and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. 23 Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. 24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin [4] of the wicked, when it comes, 26 for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. 27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, [5] when it is in your power to do it. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you. 29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. 30 Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. 31 Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, 32 for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. 33 The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. 34 Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. [6] 35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools get [7] disgrace. Footnotes [1] 3:4 Or repute [2] 3:8 Hebrew navel [3] 3:8 Or medicine [4] 3:25 Hebrew storm [5] 3:27 Hebrew Do not withhold good from its owners [6] 3:34 Or grace [7] 3:35 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain (ESV)

Friday, March 19, 2010

My soul thirsts for you

143:1 Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness! 2 Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. 3 For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. 4 Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled. 5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. 6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah 7 Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. 8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. 9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to you for refuge! [1] 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! 11 For your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! 12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Augustine's Prayer for Self-Knowledge

Lord Jesus, let me know myself and know You, and desire nothing save only You. Let me hate myself and love You. Let me do everything for the sake of You. Let me humble myself and exalt You. Let me think of nothing except You. Let me die to myself and live in You. Let me accept whatever happens as from You. Let me banish self and follow You, and ever desire to follow You. Let me fly from myself and take refuge in You, That I may deserve to be defended by You. Let me fear for myself. Let me fear You, and let me be among those who are chosen by You. Let me distrust myself and put my trust in You. Let me be willing to obey for the sake of You. Let me cling to nothing save only to You, And let me be poor because of You. Look upon me, that I may love You. Call me that I may see You, and for ever enjoy You. Amen. ~ Augustine

Saturday, March 13, 2010

faint not...

6 One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. ~ Galatians 6:6-10 (ESV) 6Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (KJV)

Friday, March 12, 2010

Peace & Reconciliation

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. ~ Matthew 19:15-16 why are we so afraid to do this? we are called to "speak the truth in love to one another" people are hurting, are sinning eggregiously against each other---and what do we do? we gossip, we get angry, slander the offending party, we keep it in, we harbor bitterness. THIS SHOULD NOT BE!!! we all know horror stories of this from Christians and non-Christians--- brothers, not speaking to each other for years, spouses in a cold war with one another if the gospel is true (which I firmly believe it is), it is good, radical, healing news which can meet these challenges head-on---but we must yield to grace! we must be willing to take bold steps to do what is needed including 'confronting someone who has sinned against us' i do not say this with any self-righteousness (i don't think). I'm 41 years old, have been a Christian since i was 16, but i feel like it's only been in the past year that some of this is finally sinking in to my thick head...i suspect i'm not the only one out there. So, if you have something against someone, as jesus said: "leave your gift at the altar, go and be reconciled to that person" If they get defensive, learn from them. if they reject you, remember people rejected the Lord Jesus too and he was perfect! if the don't repent, you've done the right thing...you can forgive and not hold on to bitterness which will only eat you alive anyway and keep you ineffective as a person! if they choose to accept your confession, then you will experience the sweet joys of reconciliation--you've won a brother or sister back --- a friend...then you've experienced real joy first hand---you've tasted the love of God in Jesus!!! "there is no fear in love; perfect love casts out fear" ~ 1 John 4 "bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ..." ~ Galatians 6 "don't leave me hollow, I'm tired of feeling low, feeling low..." ~ Switchfoot

Saturday, March 6, 2010

For you have died

3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your [1] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. ~ Colossians 3:1-4

Thursday, March 4, 2010

your treasure

"Where your treasure is, there will be your heart also." The Gospel according to Matthew

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

good works vs. good doctrine?

"[W]e must remind ourselves that the Catholic righteousness by good works is vastly preferable to a protestant righteousness by good doctrine. At least righteousness by good works benefits one’s neighbor, whereas righteousness by good doctrine only produces lovelessness and pride." Herman Bavinck, Reformed Theologian thanks to Howard Davis who posted this on his facebook page today.

to gather up all things in him

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4just as he chose us in Christ* before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
~ Ephesians 1:3-10
New Revised Standard Version