Jt's Indie Christian Music Podcast » features

Episode 98 – Welcome Back

JT — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 01:08:54 +0000

Playlist
True Liberty – Suicide King
True Liberty – Revolution
Reilly – Wake us up
Reilly – Limited Time
Eowyn – Silent Screams
Eowyn – Identity
Bread of Stone – Beautiful
Bread of Stone – Saturate
Rez band – Broken Promises
Terry Griffith – Broad Black Brimmer
Tug Fork River band – Amazing Grace House of the Risin Sun
Manic Drive – Blue
Three strand Rope – The show is over

True Liberty – http://www.myspace.com/truelibertyrva
Reilly – http://www.reillytheband.com/
Bread of Stone – http://www.breadofstone.com/
Rez Band – http://www.resurrectionband.com/
Terry Griffith – http://www.pittsburghirish.org/griffith/
Tug Fork River Band – http://www.myspace.com/thetugforkriverband
Manic Drive – http://www.myspace.com/manicdrive
Three Strand Rope – No Website

Please Donate
Please consider adding me to your monthly Giving, Your donations help to keep the podcast running and you have already provided me with several pieces of Hardware and Software that have made this podcast what it is. Here is a link for donating http://www.jtindie.com/about/suppor/

A Personal Favor
Farpoint Media – That would be the people who make this podcast possible – Have a new website and the design is killer. I would really appreciate it if you could head on over to my Farpoint Media Page and check it out. I would really appreciate a Rating and Review.

http://www.farpointmedia.com/jts-indie-christian-music-podcast/

Contact Me
http://www.jtindie.com/contacting-jt/
jtindiepodcast@gmail.com
Farpoint Page – http://www.farpointmedia.com/jts-indie-christian-music-podcast/
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/jtindiepodcast
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/justterry
Flickr – http://www.flickr.com/photos/jtindie/
Myspace – http://www.myspace.com/justterry

Mp3 – I-Tunes Feed
http://bit.ly/jtindie-itunes

Enhanced I-Tunes Feed
http://bit.ly/jtindie-enh

Legal Stuff
This Podcast was recorded under a Creative Commons, Attribution, No-Derivatives, Non-Commercial, 3.0 U.S. License. Jtindie.com podcast is a Member of the Farpoint Media Network. http://www.farpointmedia.com

Episode 96 – Everyone needs Jesus

JT — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:46:01 +0000

Been a pretty rough couple weeks and I have been trying to deal with things that are more painful than I am willing to talk about. Eitherway I ended up at the Everlife – Among the Thirsty Concert last friday and got to really worship God. It was something I really needed.

Playlist
Among the thirsty – I need a savior
Anadara – I need a savior
Brad hooks – Be thou my vision
Todd Agnew – Tell me a Story
Skillet – Awake and Alive
Reily – June, Sunlight

Podiobook Review
Harvey by Phil Rossi – http://www.philrossi.net/
podiobook link – http://www.podiobooks.com/title/harvey/
Read my full review on “Harvey” at http://www.jtindie.com/2010/06/harvey-phil-rossi/

Please Donate
Please consider adding me to your monthly Giving, Your donations help to keep the podcast running and you have already provided me with several pieces of Hardware and Software that have made this podcast what it is. Here is a link for donating http://www.jtindie.com/about/suppor/

A Personal Favor
Farpoint Media – That would be the people who make this podcast possible – Have a new website and the design is killer. I would really appreciate it if you could head on over to my Farpoint Media Page and check it out. I would really appreciate a Rating and Review.

http://www.farpointmedia.com/jts-indie-christian-music-podcast/

Contact Me
http://www.jtindie.com/contacting-jt/
mailto:jtindiepodcast@gmail.com
Farpoint Page – http://www.farpointmedia.com/jts-indie-christian-music-podcast/
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/jtindiepodcast
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/justterry
Flickr – http://www.flickr.com/photos/jtindie/
Myspace – http://www.myspace.com/justterry

Mp3 – I-Tunes Feed
http://bit.ly/jtindie-itunes

Enhanced I-Tunes Feed
http://bit.ly/jtindie-enh

Legal Stuff
This Podcast was recorded under a Creative Commons, Attribution, No-Derivatives, Non-Commercial, 3.0 U.S. License. Jtindie.com podcast is a Member of the Farpoint Media Network. http://www.farpointmedia.com

Harvey – Phil Rossi

JT — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:25:31 +0000

Title: Harvey
Author: Phil Rossi
Twitter: http://twitter.com/philrossi
Website: http://www.philrossi.net/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thephilrossi
Podiobook: http://www.podiobooks.com/title/harvey/
Awards: 2009 Podiobooks.com Founders Choice Awards

“Television singing sensation Calvin Hubbard has been caught with his hand in cookie jar. An illicit affair with a contest judge costs him not only the competition crown, but his musical credibility as well. Fleeing the media fallout, Calvin exiles himself to the backwoods town of Harvey, Virginia. With a little solitude and a lot of cheap beer, he plans to write the next great rock and roll album and resurrect his career. But Calvin doesn’t know that a man has just been buried alive in the woods outside of town, and that this quiet murder is just the first in a string of macabre events. As the town goes silently mad around him, Calvin is unable to abandon the record of his dreams. Drunk on inspiration and blinded by an inexplicable lust, he careens headlong into the maelstrom, only to discover that he may be the town’s only salvation. Something is alive in the trees—an ageless, nameless evil—and it’s coming for everyone in Harvey. Now Calvin has to decide whether to run or to stay and fight… if it isn’t already too late.”

“Harvey” is a horror novel written by Phil Rossi and it my favorite of the three novels he has released on Podiobooks.com, The other two “Eden” and “Cresent” are both set in space where “Harvey” is set in a town near the Potomac River and while I like Horror Novels and I am also a big fan of Space and Sci-Fi. For me they just aren’t two great tastes that taste great together.

“Harvey” on the other hand has just about everything you can ask for in a good horror story. The clueless stranger, the misunderstood townie, the love interest, the bad guys (got to have bad guys) The sex, the violence that makes you feel just a tad uncomfortable for reading it, and the Gore, lots and lots of Gore. Now just incase you read that last little bit with your eyes closed this book contains Graphic violence, Sex and Adult Language. The opening of each episode reminds you that this book contains these things. Please if you don’t like those things don’t download this book, and if you do download this book please don’t be surprised by the language, sex, or violence. So now on with the Review.

One of the things that Makes “Harvey” so enjoyable as a book is the fact that the author Phil Rossi never lets up on you during the entire story. There is always something important going on, and one of the main characters is in some kind of conflict at all times. Alas this is also the one thing that made it just a bit difficult to fully enjoy. I kept expecting there to be some breathing room tucked here and there during the book and I never found it. The book has a very fast pace and this is both good and bad, good in that you never really get a chance to get tired or bored, bad in that there were times I had a little trouble keeping some of the people straight. I believe this is a common problem in the difference between printed books and Podiobooks.

That small item aside, “Harvey” is a really good read that had me on the edge of my seat (so to speak) several times as well as giving me that uncomfortable closed in feeling I always get when reading a good horror tale. I’m giving “Harvey” by Phil Rossi 4 out of 5 stars and I hope you will head on over to podiobooks.com and check it out yourself.

Episode 95 – Yeah Yeah Yeah

JT — Mon, 31 May 2010 01:20:54 +0000

Had a sorry encounter with a Car while riding back from the gym and while I was healing from the encounter I was inspired to get a new tattoo, the image above is the first part, the rest will have to wait until the road rash heals up.

PlayList
Terry Griffith – Paddy’s Lament
Danny Cox – Upon His Cross
Alex White – Gearheart Podiobook Review
Terry Griffith – Health to the Company

Podiobook Review
The Gearheart – http://www.thegearheart.com
podiobook link – http://www.podiobooks.com/title/the-gearheart
Read my full review on “The Gearheart” at http://www.jtindie.com/2010/05/podiobook-review-the-gearheart/

Podiobook Review – The Gearheart

JT — Fri, 28 May 2010 01:33:40 +0000

Title: The Gearheart
Author: Alex White
Twitter: @thegearheart
Author Website: http://www.thegearheart.com/
Podiobook Link: http://www.podiobooks.com/title/the-gearheart/
Soundtrack available: http://www.thegearheart.com/?cat=122

“Jonathan Andrews, Initiate in the Seekers of the Arcane Unknown, joined the society two years ago with the hopes of protecting the secrets of magic from the greedy world beyond. However, a ravening shadow appears with a hunger for Seekers and Jonathan finds himself out of his depth. When Jonathan’s friend is attacked and the young initiate is assailed with apocalyptic visions of the future, he must find a way to uncover the past and stop the beast before it tears his group, and the world, asunder. It’s a ripping tale of magic, adventure and gunfights!”

I just have to say first thing that “The Gearheart” ranks as one of my favorite Podiobooks I have heard to date and perhaps the Podiobook I enjoyed listening to the most. This production pretty much has everything I love in an audio production as well as everything I love in a really good story. And a really good story is just what you are going to get in the steampunk/fantasy/adventure with 1930’s radio serial cliffhangers and old timey radio commercials thrown it.

“The Gearheart” is a wonderfully written adventure that comes to you in the form of an old time radio serial complete with weekly cliffhangers. As I would be listening to the story and just starting to get into the episode I would hear the ending music start to crank up and want to scream NOOOOOO! as the announcer would begin with “What will Jonathan do now that he knows the truth, and what menace is held in the shadowy figures. Tune in next week to “The Gearheart“. The only saving grace was that I didn’t have to wait until next week. (I was never any good at that) The Podiobook is complete.

Complete, however is a relative term, since I feel I should warn all of you that the production of “The Gearheart” comes loaded with an impressive amount of back story. Enough back story that at first I thought it was the second in a series, yeah that kind of back story. I kept expecting to find out that there was another podiobook I somehow missed that would clear things up. So if you begin to listen and feel a little like you came in halfway through the story, relax, don’t worry and just go with it enough of the back story gets explained that you won’t feel left out for long.

What will happen, just about the time you begin to feel comfortable with the cliff hangers and you figure out who everyone is and You know who the good guys are and who the bad guys are, well the book ends. Again in the style of 30’s radio serials we are left wondering “What now” (actually we are left thinking “Oh no you didn’t just end it like that you no good…) I have heard from good sources that more adventures are planned and we will just have to wait.

One of the things that impressed me the most was the soundtrack to the story, I was even more impressed when I found out that you can download the soundtrack at and it is something I would highly suggest you do, it will be something you want on your mp3 player.

Overall I really enjoyed “The Gearheart” and I would (and have) recommended this story to everyone I know who I think might remotely enjoy the story. So I am giving this story a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars and I encourage you to get the book and listen for yourself.

Aftermath

JT — Mon, 17 May 2010 16:50:27 +0000

I wrecked my bike this weekend, riding home from the gym. I don’t mean I fell off my bike and got a boo boo, I mean I Wrecked my bike like why is my front tire inside out, and why how did I get here, and has anyone seen my arm? I can’t seem to find it. (just take a look at the photo) Even now three days after I am still body sore and have the most amazing case of road rash I have ever had. After a few mental calculations I figure I left about a good square foot of skin laying on the road somewhere.

As I look back I struck by several thoughts, the first is just how much of a survival instinct that shock is. I wrecked on a road I ride almost everyday and to be honest I have to say that while I know the general area of where I wrecked I really doubt I would be able to go and point at a spot and say yeah here is where I ended up and this is where I sat while I was waiting for my nephew to show up and throw what was left of my bike in the back of his van and take me home.

The next thought is a little hard for me to admit but it is something that I have to say, especially if I want to be honest. First off I am getting really tired of people in cars who act like people on bikes are some kind of nuisance that they are nice enough to tolerate. Then there are the others who like to pass to close and use their horns as they speed by at 50 miles and hour and less than a foot away. I have a name for these people but I won’t use it here, I’m sure you can come up with a name that works just as well. Jerks, for the sake of argument lets just call them jerks, Well I learned something about Jerks today. I learned that when I am exposed to a Jerk I become one as well. Perhaps its some quantum law of seperation, or perhaps they just exude (I really like that word) some kind of infecting jerk particles, or maybe down deep there is a little jerk in all of us. What I’m trying to say is that I ended up wrecking when I tried to catch up to the Jerk that almost caused me to wreck when he sped past me at 50 mph 8 inches away and beeped his horn.

So now I have to deal with the aftermath of this whole thing. Fix my bike, replace the parts that were destroyed. Hope I don’t get an infection from the road rash (which is without a doubt one of the more painful things I have felt.) All because I allowed myself to get upset by the actions of another person. You know Im sure this is a really good lesson to learn but to tell the truth my leg hurts to much for me to figure out what it is. If I had to guess tho I’m thinking it would be

DON’T BE A JERK

Beneath – Podiobook Review

JT — Fri, 14 May 2010 00:48:14 +0000

PodioBook Review of Beneath by Jeremy Robinson
http://www.podiobooks.com/title/beneath
http://media.podiobooks.com/pbpromos/BeneathPromoPB-01.mp3

Number of Episode – 17
Running Time – 12.1 Hours
Content Rating PG-13
Rating 4 out of 5 Stars

“Three thousand years after a chunk of iron the size of Khufu’s pyramid collides with Europa, Jupiter’s sixth moon, an asteroid borne of the collision crashes into Earth’s Arctic ice shelf carrying extraterrestrial microbial life. The first man to come into contact with the microbes hears voices—and then dies.

After determining the meteorite originated from Europa, the Global Exploratory Corporation sends oceanographer and biologist, Kathy Connelly, and her crew to the moon aboard the Surveyor, an experimental spacecraft. They are charged with the task of melting through miles of ice to the hidden ocean beneath, where the search for alien microorganisms begins. But a startling discovery awaits them on the surface of Europa.

Life.

Vast fields of red, plant-like organisms fill the cracks crisscrossing the moon’s surface, surviving on nutrients welling up from the waters below. Intoxicated by thoughts of what might lie beneath, Connelly and her crew activate the Thermal Exploratory System and melt through the ice—toward a world that does not want to be found, toward a force that will do anything to make sure they never leave.

They search for life. They find death.”

This is the baited hook that dangles before your eyes as you try and decide what book to listen to over at podiobooks.com from reading the text above you would expect to taken on a thrill ride of action, adventure, and horror. You would be right, “Beneath” from Jeremy Robinson is just that. A thoroughly enjoyable story filled with action, adventure and just enough comedy to keep you off guard.

The audio version of the book is narrated by Jeffery Kafer who did an outstanding job, which is no surprise as he is the winner of the 2008 Voicey award for best new voice. As this is the first book/podiobook review I have written I am finding it dificult to review the book without giving away to much. I will say that while I thought parts of the book were telegraphed, there were several times when I found myself surprised by the direction the story took.

The book had a logical progression from start to finish with a group of shared and varied viewpoints from the crew of the Surveyor both in the ship and on (as well as under) the surface of Europa. You never had time to get bored with one viewpoint or forget what happen. The story on a whole was very fast paced and never had a slow moment. The end of the book did suffer from a bit of deus ex machina but I feel that this does not weaken the story, instead it strengthens parts of it.

One thing that did bother me with the Podiobook version of the book was the multiple introductions at the beginning of each episode. First an Ad for the Starter by Scott Sigler (yes I pre-ordered on opening day thank you very much) then an introduction stating book, author, narrator, and episode and then a message from the Author about his other books. All of this is understandable after all the ads and the printed book sales are what make the free podiobooks possible. I believe this and I support it. Just when I take my 90 min commute in the morning and evening to work and have to listen to 3 or 4 of these in a row I will admit to fast forwarding past them. (note from JTindie I just wanted to insert this here after hearing from Evo at Podiobooks.com – The ads from Scott Sigler are an insert that wont be there once that run of ads are over.)

All in all I have to say that I really enjoyed the book as well as his other Podiobook “Kronos” Which I will no doubt be reviewing in the future. Jeremy Robinson is without a doubt an author that you need to enjoy for yourself. I’m giving Beneath a 4 out of 5 stars.

Episode 94

JT — Wed, 12 May 2010 02:00:46 +0000

Thats Right, I’m Back. Just when you thought it was safe to put those cheapo earphones back on I come screaming back at you once again. I am trying to overcome the burn-out that has infected my podcast. I want to do more than just play music, and I have become that ‘music guy’. So I am trying to get out of that Rut. Still Playing music but Talking about things as well. Hope you enjoy the Photo of Me and Seamus Kennedy taken at the Harp and Fiddle during a new Friends Birthday Celebration.

Playlist
Todd Agnew – Still has a Hold
Todd Agnew – Tell Me a Story
Seamus Kennedy – Ghost Riders in the Sky
Third from First – Time

Promo
Cross Driven Radio – http://www.crossdrivenradio.com

Episode 93

JT — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 16:05:09 +0000

Before we Start I have something I want to say.

Things have been rough for me here in JT-Land. I want to confess to all you right now that there were several times over the last few weeks I thought long and hard about giving up this whole thing. The past few episode have been really hard for me to record. I just didn’t want to do this anymore. I’m still not all that sure what was causing me to feel that way but I want to let you all know that it seems to have past, for the most part. It is still difficult for me to find the time to record and when I do have the time I am finding myself more likely to head outside and ride my bike instead. I hope you will understand if the episodes become a little infrequent.

Thanks
JT

Playlist
About a Mile – My Mistake
Cry to the Blind – Blue
AngelSpeak – For You
Anadara – I need a savior
Say You Will – Make you breathe

The Cross of Christ and What it Means to Me

BH — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 15:44:02 +0000

Part I

Christ died on the cross so that we would have eternal life. He, a man, took on the weight of sin from the past, the present, and the future on that cross and died. Jesus endured the cross for the joy on the other side (Hebrews 12:2). His love encompassed all… every person in the past, present, and future. This love remains unconditional, regardless of any circumstance, reason, place, position, or status.

The cross was where blood was spilled out. What would it have looked like? The cross… stained with the blood. The ground underneath… trodden down and soaked with blood and water poured from Christ’s body. Christ Himself… nailed to the cross, bleeding, barely recognizable as a human, and probably in agony, all the while looking down on the crowd with tender love and compassion. It was a holy spot. Christ had His life flow—His blood—washed out of Him, and the weight of all human sin, iniquity, and burden on His shoulders.

Only death could release and provide the gateway into the new. Only through the cross was it possible for the temple curtain to be torn in two. The gateway to free, unlimited access to God became opened at last. God’s presence was now unleashed to all who came to the Savior. By choosing to step through the gate that Christ has opened we possess a wonderful inheritance, including:

~a relationship with Christ
~the Holy Spirit of God Himself
~an inheritance in heaven
~ life in abundance and to the full, here and now!
~ victory over sin, death, and strongholds
~the wonder and glory of God’s presence

All of this has already been made possible and accessible by the work completed on the cross! We don’t need to strive to earn it or keep it. Christ has already completed the work and fulfilled the righteous requirements of God’s holy law that was given through Moses. Christ has already suffered the punishments of our sin. He has taken on the punishment that we so deserve. All we need to do is receive and believe in Him.

Part II

The cross on which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ hung on means most of all, rest. Gazing upon the cross of Christ, I see a work that was completed over 2,000 years ago. The work took on my own humanity, my own sinful nature, my sin, my pain, and all my sickness. From this I can rest easy, knowing that Christ has already paid the dear cost of all my sin. I know that He has already done it and aim to simply take hold of that which He died to give.

The cross also means love. Yes, Christ died for all of humanity. Everyone. However, there is a deep, very personal side to this. He died for you. He died for me. A giving of life that we might truly live. For God created life, and in Him is where real, true, actual life resides.

End Notes

Not too long ago we celebrated Easter. Was this Easter any different for you? Or was it basically the same holiday as usual? I hope and pray for each one of you reading this that God would bless you and open up your eyes to the wonder of the finished work of Christ on the cross. I hope that you may come to know that Christ has totally fulfilled the requirements of the Law. Christ is the only person Who has ever and will ever walk on the face of the earth Who has not broken God’s perfect and holy Law. By saying this I mean that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We have all broken it but the One.

By receiving Jesus’ perfect fulfillment of the Law we become clothed in His righteousness and covered in His blood. God sees us as He sees Jesus—righteous, holy, on and on. We are loved just as Christ was loved. We are seen by how God saw Jesus. Reading through the gospels it is easy to take note of how Christ was so beloved. We are too… Our eyes just need to be opened to it.

Open our eyes, Lord!

Amen.

Nothing to Come Between

BH — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:32:18 +0000

4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
Exodus 20:4-6

Ah, yes. The Ten Commandments. The receiving of these was a monumental time in history. For the Israelites, these commands from the Lord God Himself became the foundation of their law and rules to live by. They still apply to us today, and God desires us to live by them and keep them. Jesus referred to the commands (see Matthew 5:27-48), taking them to the level of the heart in this age. Jesus expounded upon adultery and murder, but I would like to focus on idolatry.

1 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”
2 Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”
5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the LORD.” 6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.
7 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’
Exodus 32:1-8 (emphasis mine)

Not too long after the Lord God gave Moses the Commandments, Israel went ahead and made an idol! Instead of patiently waiting for God’s timing and trusting that Moses was safe they made a calf and bowed down to it. Seems kind of silly, doesn’t it? You might remember what happened to them after this: they went right into the wilderness for forty years. The consequences were pivotal.

That was our example way back when. I’d like to share a more current-day stance on the issue of idolatry, as not many people in the western world bow down to physical idols. This is from Sandie Freed’s powerful book, Breaking the Threefold Demonic Cord:

“To bow down means to give superiority or reverence to another being. In other words, we listen to the words of another being or honor another voice above God’s. How many times have we listened to the voice of the enemy? How often do we heed what the devil says about us and exalt his words above what God has said? It we exalt Satan’s words over God’s, then we are bowing down to a false image. Dear ones, this is a form of idolatry!

…If we have embrace any image of God that is not truly who He says He is, then we are bowing down to a false image.”

So you can see that anything in our lives that is held in higher esteem than the Lord and what His Word says, then we are bowing down to a false image and holding that higher in our life. All of us struggle with this in different areas. However, let us desire to the utmost to bring every thought into the captivity of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

I want to encourage each and every person to think about their life. Take a good, hard look. Here are some thoughts to consider:

It’s not a widespread topic to keep God at number one in our lives. It’s too easy in the complacency of life to allow certain things to run us … money, family, jobs, friends, work, etc. It might not be an image or a statue, but how often do we bow down to these and worship them in the sense of allowing them to run our lives?

Where has the honor gone in keeping the Lord in the first and foremost place? Busyness and activity tend to take over stillness and rest.

May we keep Him first in our love, time, money, and everything. By obeying Him to the fullest, loving Him above anyone and anything in our lives, He will make us successful and bless us in all of our ways.

Episode 92 – New Music

JT — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:35:58 +0000

Well we have a change of plan at jtindie.com podcast today. It seems I have been blessed with access to some seriously mainstream Christian music. So Next episode we will get back to the Indie Music but this Episode just sit back and enjoy.

Playlist
Flyleaf – Again
Fireflight – Stand Up
Red – Mystery of You
Brain Head Welch – Adonia
Abandon Kansas – I wonder if its me
Disciple – Lay this Burden Down
Rez Band – Shadows

Promo
Two Blind Squirrels

Perfection Anyone?

BH — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:45:55 +0000

Is anyone else out there caught up in trying to live a perfect life and/or be the perfect person? What a noble thing to strive for (kidding!). It’s easy to overlook the immense pressure it puts on us. It weighs us down, burdens us beyond what we realize. But maybe you’ve come across some wisdom like this before:

I Wouldn’t Try to be So Perfect
Anonymous
Written by an 85 year old man who learned he was dying.

If I had my life to live over again,
I’d try to make more mistakes next time.
I wouldn’t try to be so perfect. We all have perfection fetishes.
What difference does it make if you let people know you are imperfect?
They can identify with you then.
Nobody can identify with perfection.

I would relax more. I’d be sillier than I’ve been on this trip.
In fact, I know very few things that I would take so seriously.
I’d be crazier. I’d be less hygienic. I’d take more chances.
I’d climb more mountains. I’d watch more sunsets.
I’d go more places I’ve never seen.
I’d eat more ice cream and fewer beans.
I’d have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I was one of those people who lived sensibly and sanely
Hour after hour and day after day.
Oh, I’ve had my moments,
And if I had it to do all over again,
I’d have more of those moments.
In fact, I’d try to have nothing but beautiful moments;
Moment by moment by moment.
In case you didn’t know it,
That’s the stuff life is made of—only moments.
Don’t miss the now.
I’ve been one of those people
Who never went anywhere without a thermometer,
A hot water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat, and a parachute.
If I had it to do all over again,
I’d travel lighter next time

If I had it to do all over again,
I’d start barefoot earlier in the spring
And stay that way until later in the fall.
I’d ride more merry-go-rounds,
I’d watch more sunrises,
And I’d play with more children.
If I had it to do over again…

But how are we supposed to implement this into our daily lives?! I mean, we all want to do our best, live healthy, and try to meet expectations and criteria. How on earth is that supposed to be balanced with just living life? I don’t get it!

Society and the media don’t help either. There are such demands for perfection everywhere. I’m not only referring to looks/beauty. Everything has been refined and polished so much that pretty soon we will have robots doing jobs. It’s all about getting things exactly right, scoring high on that test, NO MISTAKES ALLOWED! Yes, that’s right. We can’t tolerate mistakes. Or blemishes. Or mess-ups. Doesn’t this take the humanness out of life?! In our Western, civilized, refined, society, I’d say that we are less human than most.

So we must get things precisely correct. In a healthy setting, this can be very beneficial and uplifting. It is a higher calling and something to reach for. Being geared towards excellence and always putting forth our best is necessary. We are all on that path. However, it is on the path where we either stick with it or deviate and potentially give up. Sometimes perfection entails a great FEAR of being wrong (again, this can be motivating). But most times it is binding. The fear freezes us so that we fail to move. We don’t want to be wrong.

I quite frankly hate to be wrong! I hate having flaws! Maybe we all do. It’s the most awful thing when someone points out that something is wrong (but sometimes it is easy to bear the comment!). It’s like being found out. Hiding inside is easy. We can cover the flaws and not let them out so that no one will take notice. However, when someone does take notice it is terrible to bear. As the above anonymous note says, “nobody can relate to perfection.” So if we are trying to radiate perfection so that no one will see the flaws, what is there for others to relate to? On the other hand, how are we to relate to people who are as they are, imperfections and all right there in front of our eyes? It works in the opposite manner. We can’t tolerate imperfections in ourselves, so then we struggle to relate to those who have what we perceive as imperfections. What’s there for us to relate to?

I’m growing… We’re all growing… I am sometimes astounded by the beauty found in messes. There’s love. There’s joy. There are other things more important to give attention to and the mess gets left as it is. Life doesn’t go as planned and things get sloppy. That’s where the “humanness” of it all comes in. The love, the feeling, the fluctuation and breath that is more of the substance of who we are. That’s when we are free to just GO! and take risks, love more freely, and bask in the enjoyment and life Jesus Christ died for!

Then the perspective will shift… Life will be more about love above anything. Beauty and enjoyment in all of their facets will come into place next. Freedom and security bursting forth to shoot us into our God-given destiny. Without an ounce of unhealthy perfection mindsets.

We need to take hold of the total love Jesus has for us and break off the bondage of fear! We must understand that we’re all going to make mistakes. Then we can just pick up the pieces and simply try again. We need a “no fear” zone where we can build resilience and confidently go forward in life. That’s why we have an unseen God Who is absolute holy and makes no mistakes!

WE ARE FREE!!!

Episode 91 – Angelspeak

JT — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:08:15 +0000

Yeah I know it has been along time since I managed to get a new episode up. I hope you all will forgive me, it is Dogsitting season and I found myself without internet way to frequently. Im home now, missing a tooth and a jaw that tends to swear at me, but here is the new episode.

Playlist
Skillet – Monster
Jake Amerding – Adonia
Travis Roberts – That’s Easy
Cry to the Blind – Shadow of a Man
JJ Heller – Love Me
Melissa Greene – Long Road To Forgiveness
Brent Cole – This is How We Live
Building 429 – Your Love Goes On

http://www.farpointmedia.com/jts-indie-christian-music-podcast/

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High Cost

BH — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:07:03 +0000

This week in church we are started a nine week study on discipleship via Dietrich Bonheoffer’s book, The Cost of Discipleship. I read this book back in 8th grade and had a difficult time grasping what he was saying, but after many years I’m sure it will be a more rewarding experience. Anyways… On Sunday, Pastor Dave’s sermon focused on cheap grace vs. costly grace. To highlight the point of costly grace, P.D. used the following verse:

Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you. Matthew 7:6

This verse has never made much sense to me. After hearing the sermon, however, it is beginning to take root!

I must confess and ask for forgiveness for those in my 20-somethings generation… We’ve taken so much for granted. I know we shouldn’t blame circumstances… But (as so many like to point out) we’ve had so much provided for us. We haven’t had to struggle for much. Things aren’t nearly as rough on the home-front here in the U.S. as they were in the past (in some ways).

So naturally with being surrounded by an abundance of everything, we’re going to take a lot of it for granted.
It’s unfortunate that that also applies to God’s grace.

We take grace lightly because we fail to count the cost. We take our freedom lightly because it’s hard for us to grasp the price so many before us paid to protect us. We take our parents lightly because we don’t understand the sacrifices they have made in raising us. Forgive us all, Lord.

When we count the cost, there arises a deep-seated gratitude that erupts into a desire to pour forth and give back.

Grace has so many different facets. A baseline fact is that one of the results of Jesus laying down His all is for us to be covered in God’s grace. Let’s briefly think about this… Jesus, after being in heaven for who knows how many years, came to us in the form of a baby. He left the glory of God in heaven and came to us in flesh. Now I’ve heard near-death encounters of people having glimpses of heaven and not wanting to return to earth. Imagine what it would be like to have been in heaven, then coming down here to live for a period of time! He walked on this earth and grew as all of us have. Around the age of thirty His ministry began and I’m sure most of us know the story of His suffering, death, burial, and resurrection.

What about the hours before the crucifixion? In His suffering, Christ’s friends abandoned Him. Life feels empty and lonely without friends. I can’t imagine going through the worst possible time and having your friends fall asleep and run from you. Ouch. Jesus was scorned, mocked, and beaten. Try putting yourself in His shoes. See what it feels like. Yet He silently stood strong out of love. Then the whipping. The crown of thorns? How about the nails in the wrists and feet? Oh, and don’t forget about being displayed on a cross for all to see. At this point Christ is marred beyond recognition and has a spear stuck in His side. Death. Then came the glorious resurrection!

This all happened that we would have life as lived by grace.

Failing to keep in mind Christ as risen from the grave causes grace to be cheap. We lightly come back for more and don’t hold it as the precious, wonderful gift that Christ died in order to give us.

I pray that God would open up all of our eyes to understand the high price Jesus paid for us. From seeing this in a deeper, more meaningful manner, I believe that our hearts will be so riveted and moved to display our gratitude in a unique manner. Maybe you’ll write a song about it. Maybe you’ll just get on your knees in thankfulness to God. Maybe you’ll offer it to someone else who desperately needs some grace. Either way these are all expressions of our gratitude to our Creator.

God, please help us to count the cost of the cross, of the price Jesus paid for us. Just as we would hold a valuable treasure with the utmost care and consideration, help us to hold the grace You have blessed with in the same manner. May the wonder of Your sacrifice be truly felt in our hearts, so that we might feel and share in the immense power. In Jesus’ wonderful name. Amen.