I've been on a country kick lately. A couple of my current favorites are Little Big Town's "Pontoon" and Hunter Hayes' "Wanted" and "Storm Warning."
"Pontoon" just makes me think of summer - who would have thought a song about a floating apparatus would be so catchy? ;)
Hunter Hayes is an amazing 20 year old musician/songwriter - he plays the accordion, guitar, mandolin, keyboard, bass guitar, piano and drums on his debut album released in 2011. I love both songs that have been released so far...
Happy Birthday America! Whether we're black or white, gay or straight,
conservative or liberal we all have something in common today - we're
all a part of this awesome place we call home. God Bless America and
all her quirks! :)
"Home"
West, on a plane bound west
I see her stretching out below
Land, blessed mother land
The place where I was born
Scars, yeah she’s got her scars
Sometimes it starts to worry me
Cause lose, I don’t wanna lose
Sight of who we are
From the mountains high
To the wave crashed coast
There’s a way to find
Better days I know
It’s been a long hard ride
Got a ways to go
But this is still the place
That we all call home
Free, nothing feels like free
Though it sometimes means we don’t get along
Cause same, no we're not the same
But that’s what makes us strong
From the mountains high
To the wave crashed coast
There’s a way to find
Better days I know
It’s been a long hard ride
Got a ways to go
But this is still the place
That we all call home
Brave, gotta call it brave
To chase that dream across the sea
Names, and they signed their names
For something they believed
Red, how the blood ran red
And we laid our dead in sacred ground
Just think, wonder what they think
If they could see us now
It’s been a long hard ride
Got a ways to go
But this is still the place
That we all call home
It’s been a long hard ride
And I won’t lose hope
This is still the place
That we all call home
Lyrics to Dierks Bentley's song "Home" are property and copyright of their owners.
U2 is one of those bands who changed the music industry, not only are they amazing musicians and lyricists, they are advocates for numerous charities and are outspoken against AIDS/HIV, poverty and hunger in our world. They are also deeply spiritual and many of their songs clearly speak to the struggle of man dealing with the world around him and faith - be it in a Heavenly being or simply in mankind. U2 started the ONE campaign and Bono is currently the ambassador for the Millennium Development Goals (part of the United Nations)
One of my favorite U2 songs is "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" - it speaks to my constant struggle with knowing God's plan for me and that feeling of knowing there is something more out there... (how fitting that the video was filmed in "Sin City"!)
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
I have climbed highest mountain
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you
I have run
I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
I have kissed honey lips
Felt the healing in her fingertips
It burned like fire
This burning desire
I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
I believe in the kingdom come
Then all the colors will bleed into one
Bleed into one
Well yes I'm still running
You broke the bonds and you
Loosed the chains
Carried the cross
Of my shame
Of my shame
You know I believed it
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for...
Other favorites include "Beautiful Day", "Pride (In the Name of Love)" and "Walk On".
One of the coolest video's is "Where The Streets Have No Name." U2 filmed their video on top of liquor store in downtown LA freaking the police out and drawing fans in to watch by the hundreds. :)
U2
Lyrics to U2's song "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" are the property and copyright of their owners.
U2 music as a way to celebrate Christ's love? Sure, why not? On Saturday, June 23rd I attended a special "U2charist" service (spirituality+justice+rock and roll) that was brought to Resurrection Lutheran by our fantastic intern, Vicar Ray McKechnie, who will be leaving us in a few weeks after a year of awesome service... sad :(
Vicar Ray McKechnie - photo credit: Pam Hogeweide
The service was an inspiring combination of U2 music performed by our enthusiastic Resurrection Praise Team and messages about equality, justice, humanity and faith. It was a service based around the Eucharist (hence the clever name) which is also known as the Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and had a very thought provoking message shared by the Reverend Dr. Dan Brunner, professor of Christian History, Formation, and Earthkeeping at George Fox Evangelical Seminary.
The message from Rev. Dr. Dan Brunner and an audio clip of the Praise Team performing "Pride (In The Name of Love)" are available here for a limited time.
Please also check out Resurrection Lutheran Church's webpage as well for additional information about our ELCA based Lutheran church, our stewardship, ministries and events.
