Getting My Attention

God got a hold of me this week. He got my attention... big time. Not in a bad way, but in a way I'm not ready to share yet. I am lucky. God loves me enough to pursue me, chase me down if he has to.

I also saw an AMAZING concert Friday night. Josh Garrels, my favorite artist, played at a very cool old theatre in Encinitas. It was also fun to hang out with many of the folks from The Roots Church.

I haven't written in a long time. I have a feeling that is about to change.

Farther Along - Josh Garrels

Still I get hard pressed on every side
Between the rock and a compromise
Like the truth and pack of lies fightin’ for my soul
And I’ve got no place left go
Cause I got changed by what I’ve been shown
More glory than the world has known
Keeps me ramblin’ on

Lost Animals

My favorite Christian Folk/Rap artist, Josh Garrels, released a new album, Lost Animals, recently. I picked it up at his performance last week. It's a collection of songs that didn't make onto his last album, Jacaranda, and others he wrote and recorded in collaboration, or for film scores. Like all of Josh's music, Lost Animals is memorizing, and unforgettable. If you have not yet listened to Josh, give him a try. And if you choose to purchase his music, buy directly from his website here: http://www.joshgarrels.com/store.html to help support Josh and his family.

Josh Garrels @ Packing House

Set List:
Restless Ones
Joyful Boy
Train Song
Desert Father
Words Remain
Sweet River Roll
Zion & Babylon
(message)
Freedom
Creation Song

Maylene @ The Glass House

Another AMAZING concert by Maylene and the Sons of Disaster. Here is the set list:

Waiting On My Deathbed
Memories Of The Grove
Tough as John Jacobs
Listen Close
Raised By The Tide
Step Up (I'm On It)
Darkest Of Kin
Caution: Dangerous Curves Ahead

You can check out their new video at Rolling Stone.

Time Bomb

These are lyrics from a brand new song. Read all the way down to the bottom to find out who the author is. (You may be surprised.)
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I'm a ticking time bomb
Waiting to blow my top
No one would ever know
Not until I blew up

No one would believe it
He was such a normal guy
Shake their heads and wonder why

If Martians fell from the sky
What would that do to god?
Would we put the weapons down
Or aim it up at the sky

No one would believe it
Except the f***ing nut jobs
They laugh and cry we told you so

Baby when I get home
I want to believe in Jesus
Hammer in the final nail
Help me pick up the pieces

When everything starts to fall
So fast that it terrifies you
When will you hit the wall?
Are you gonna learn to fly?

No one would believe it
Except for all the people
Watching as you fly away

Baby when I get home
I want to pick up the pieces
Hammer in the final nail
And lean me up against Jesus

Baby when I get home
I want to believe in Jesus
You can Hammer in the final nail
But help me pick up
the pieces

Baby when I get home
Help me pick up the pieces
You can hammer in the final nail
I wanna believe in Jesus

by
Dave Matthews
on the new Dave Matthews Band album:
Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King

Zion & Babylon-Josh Garrels

Oh great mammon of form and function
Careless consumerist consumption
Dangerous dysfunction
Described as expensive taste
I’m a people disgraced
By what I claim I need
And what I want to waste
I take no account for nothing
If it’s not mine
It’s a misappropriation of funds
Protect my ninety percent with my guns
Whose side am I on?
Well who’s winning?
My kingdom’s built with the blood of slaves
Orphans, widows, and homeless graves
I sold their souls just to build my private mansion
Some people say that my time is coming
Kingdom come is the justice running
Down, down, down on me
I’m a poor child, I’m a lost son
I refuse to give my love to anyone,
Fight for the truth,
Or help the weaker ones
Because I love my Babylon
I am a slave, I was never free
I betrayed you for blood money
Oh I bought the world, all is vanity
Oh my Lord I’m your enemy
Come to me, and find your life
Children sing, Zion’s in sight
I said don’t trade your name for a serial number
Priceless lives were born from under graves
Where I found you
Say, my name ain’t yours and yours is not mine
Mine is the Lord, and yours is my child
That’s how it’s always been
Time to make a change
Leave your home
Give to the poor all that you own
Lose your life, so that you could find it
First will be last when the true world comes
Livin’ like a humble fool to overcome
The upside-down wisdom
Of a dying world
Zion’s not built with hands
And in this place God will dwell with man
Sick be healed and cripples stand
Sing Allelu
My kingdom’s built with the blood of my son
Selfless sacrifice for everyone
Faith, hope, love, and harmony
I said let this world know me by your love
By your love
Oh my child, daughters and sons
I made you in love to overcome
Free as a bird, my flowers in the sun
On your way to Mount Zion
All you slaves, be set free
Come on out child and come on home to me
We will dance, we will rejoice
If you can hear me then follow my voice

Evaporated-Ben Folds

New Maylene song

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Tour dates announced! I'll be at the Glass House in Pomona with my son. I'll probably be the oldest guy in the room (again) but I just love this band and their music. Dallas Taylor is gracious and on multiple occasions has take time to speak to my son and me.