Hello WordPress!
I’ve been using WordPress for my Christian music MP3 blog over here, but just lately I decided to switch my random ramblings blog over from Blogger to WordPress. Enjoy the posts!
The Blah Blah – Christian Music Blog
Hey, all you faithful readers, check out the new blog I’ve started over here. It’s called The Blah Blah and it’ll be a place to promote all sorts of Christian music. I love all kinds of music – rock, emo, country, folk, indie, swing, orchestral, jazz, experimental, Gregorian chants… so you’ll be able to find it all there.
I’m maybe not the best person on the planet to do a Christian music blog, but I’m the only one right now. I just got fed up with the ease of downloading new secular music on-line and the comparable difficulty of getting new free Christian stuff. I don’t want to rip off the artists, but I do want to promote them and help get you to notice bands you may have overlooked.
Right now, I’ve got three posts, and I plan on doing one or two a week. Check it out at The Blah Blah.
I apologize for not posting on this blog for a while, and I do plan on keeping this one going as a place to post my general thoughts and observations about life. In the meantime, however, tell your friends, neighbors, and Uncle Bernie to head over to The Blah Blah for some awesome, perhaps unknown, Christian music.
Psalm 50
Sorry for being a blogging slacker. I haven’t posted since November! Life is crazy.
Anyway, I was reading Psalm 50 this morning. That’s a great Psalm. Go and read it. God doesn’t want our sacrifices, our offerings of money, our busy-work, our guilt-given gifts (alliteration is an important literary technique). He wants our praise and thanks, our right-living, our pure hearts.
I’ve been trying to do more interactive stuff with God in the mornings. I’ve always been very efficiency- and production-oriented in my times with God. Mostly, I want to see a lot of chapters read every day, so I feel good about my relationship with God, because if I’ve read 10 chapters in the day, surely me and God must be doing awesome. The truth of the matter, though, is that quality is way more important than quantity. My goal should be that I meet with God, not that I read a lot of Bible to feel like I accomplished something. In an effort to change that, lately I’ve been trying to read way LESS Bible but read it way better. I’ll read just a chapter or two (or even just a few verses) but really meditate on them, chew them like a good steak, and give a response to God. I got this idea from David Crowder’s book Praise Habit.
For the past week or so, I’ve been stuck on Psalm 29, just digging into it, but today I moved on to Psalm 50. I’ll put some of my meditations on Psalm 29 up sometime, but for now you get Psalm 50.
I haven’t written many poems, and I don’t claim to be an amazing poet, but after reading Psalm 50, here’s what I wrote in response to God’s words:
I came to the king
With an offering of land,
But he turned me back
And said, “I will not have it.”
With a tear in his eye.
I came again to the king
With a gift of gold,
But he sent me home,
And retorted, “Do you think I need your gold?”
With a look of anger.
I came still again to the king
With a sacrifice of clothing,
But he shewed me away
And shot, “I have my own tailors!”
With a sense of indignation.
I went home.
I threw away my idols.
I held a feast for the beggars.
I forgave the debts of my servants.
I sought out my wife and children whom I had wronged.
I came one last time to the king
With a song and a look of gratitude
And he smiled and listened
As I sang my song
With a tear in my eye.
God wants us, not our gifts. That’s a strange, beautiful, mysterious, awesome, wonderful, reassuring, humbling thing.
Photography… Sunday!
At last, I’ve been able to download some photos from our trip to Cameroon, in mid-western Africa. For some background, the staff at Cornerstone met Pastor Bernard Modo of Cameroon last April, and he invited us to come and minister at their annual conference. So we left for Douala, Cameroon, just under two weeks ago, and set our feet on African soil for the first time (but not the last).
Douala is Cameroon’s largest city, pulling in at about 1 million people, but most cities in the nation are much smaller villages. Like most African nations, Cameroon’s statistics show a dire story. The nation is ranked 6th place for most corrupt nations of the world. We had some first-hand experience with the corruption when guards and customs officials at the airport were asking for bribes to let us through. AIDS has taken a toll on the nation. Statistics vary, but as high as 13% of the population is diagnosed with the disease. So many people have died that thousands of children roam the streets of Douala, their parents fallen to AIDS. Drugs are available, but they are too expensive for most people to afford. Unemployment rates are close to 50%, and over half the nation lives below the poverty line. The median income is right around $2400 a year.
Despite the depressing statistics, I fell in love with the country. Cameroonians are some of the nicest, most honest, hard-working, and noble people I have ever met. I never felt scared or like we were in danger (except maybe in the airport), and people treated us like we were supposed to be there. We didn’t even get the normal stares and smiles that we get when we’re the only white guys in a third world nation.
We were able to help a lot of people, pray for a lot of people, and lay a good foundation for future work with Pastor Bernard in Douala. Our hearts really were knit together on this trip.
Without any more editorializing (well, maybe a little more), here’s the photos:
This is a photo of Bishop Michael, who oversees a few hundred churches in Nigeria, travels the globe preaching, and has written dozens of books, raised the dead twice, and healed thousands. This guy had power. But what was great about him was that he also had humility, joy, and tons of love just seeping out of him. He became the first Christian in his village of 20,000 when he was 9, then at 15, he decided to do a 6-month water fast. At the end of his fast, Jesus appeared and told him, “I have anointed your words to heal the sick and cast out demons.” From that point onward, he has been healing thousands with just his words. He has closed down hundreds of pagan shrines, healed everything from blind eyes to tumors, and been shot at from point blank range (and not even harmed).
This is one of our drivers while we were in Cameroon. He was amazing. Not only would he bring us anywhere we needed to go, he was able to drive through some of the hariest traffic ever. On two-lane roads covered in pot-holes and dirt patches, we’d be weaving in and out of three lanes of cars, an ever-flowing and changing lane of motorcyclists, and constant walkers dodging in and out. It was sheer mania. On a number of occasions we had to drive head-on into oncoming traffic, swerve around a delivery truck, dodge a few walkers, drive onto the sidewalk, and then turn right from the left lane in order to get to our destination. Needless to say, it was a lot of fun to be riding in the car, but I don’t know how well I’d be able to handle driving. We also went over 90 mph on some beat-up old roads to get to a meeting on time, parked in slots only a bicycle should have fit into, and made NASCAR look boring. Immanuel, I will be forever amazed at your skill as a driver!
Right outside our hotel, I caught this picture of a rooster walking along the sidewalk. I saw no lions, zebras, elephants, or giraffes the whole time I was in Africa. Nor did I see any pygmy. But I did see a rooster.
On our way to Limbe, we passed by this school full of kids. I was thinking of touching it up to make the bright uniforms stand out even more, but I thought it’d be better to be able to say it was completely unedited. Isn’t the contrast in colors amazing? We saw lots of school kids in Cameroon, and they always had really bright uniforms on – red, orange, yellow, blue… it looked really cool. And then when school was over, the kids (in hundreds) all walked home along the highway in massive packs of bright colors. I tried to get some shots of the exodus in progress, but it happened while we were going 90 mph, so they were really blurry.
My one artsy, useless photo of the bunch. I could pretend I was taking this photo to illustrate the fact that we had to drink bottled water the whole time there, so we wouldn’t get any strange diseases, but the only reason I took this photo was because I wanted to mess with the manual settings on my camera. Pretty cool, though, huh? Tangui. Say it with me – Tangui.
Thanks for checking out the photos, and please leave your comments. Next month, I’ll either have some photos from our few hours in New York City or photos from my upcoming trip to New Orleans to help with Hurricane Katrina disaster relief. But before you get those, check back next week for links to some amazing sermons I’ve been listening to.
Photography Friday
Sorry, everybody, but I am experiencing technical difficulties with uploading some new photos. Last week, I was in Cameroon (in West Africa) on a mission trip, so many thanks to my wife, Jessie, for updating my blog. Anyway, while there, I took a ton of great photos I hoped to be able to get up on-line here. Unfortunately, I’m having trouble retrieving the photos from my camera. Hopefully, either by tomorrow or Sunday, I should have some new photos to show. Otherwise, I’ll put up some older ones that I haven’t yet shared.
Either way, photos are forthcoming.
In the meantime, meditate on this thought I had while Jessie and I were in Colorado in August. It’s my reasoning for why I like photography. Deep Thoughts from Jake Stimpson… One way to honor someone is to appreciate what they have made. For instance, if you were a fan of Pablo Picasso, you would honor him by appreciating his artwork. You would sit in front of it and talk about how amazing his use of color is. You would stare at one painting for hours, just mesmerized by his delicate use of light to display different shades of meaning. And on and on. If he were to walk in the room while you were appreciating his paintings, he’d be honored to see you in awe of what he had created.
It’s the same way with God. When we sit in front of His creation and stare at his artwork, just appreciating the beautiful shades of light in a sunset, and enjoying the varying temperatures on our skin as the sun descends… as we enjoy what He has made, we give Him honor. Any true lover of God will be a lover of nature. Anybody who says they love God will naturally love what He has made. That’s why I’m a huge fan of nature. I see God in mountains. I feel Him in streams. I hear Him in meadows. I see what He has made and give Him the glory.
That’s also why, conversely, I like big cities like Chicago, LA, New York, Douala, etc. I see the constant flow of people, God’s own creation, and His most amazing one at that, and I can’t help but worship. Whether in the splendor of creativity and genius displayed in New York City skyscrapers, or in the artisticly manicured lawns of Beverly Hills, or the constant bustle and busy working of Chicago, or the fight to survive in a third world nation, I see God in the people He has made. Creative. Enduring. Loving. Simple. Complex. Emotional. Real. I love big cities because they remind me of how amazing God is in the most amazing creature He has made.
And that is why I love photography. I can’t take a picture of God, but I can take a picture of His works of art.
So… ponder that, while you wait for photos to come. Try to see God in all you do and everywhere you go. See Him in nature, in the fields, flowers, clouds, and forests around you. See Him in people, in your neighbor, your landlord, your grandmother, your son.
A Book for Your Soul
This is Jessie, Jake’s wife, updating his blog for the week. Jake asked me to write about a book or books I’ve been reading lately, so I decided to talk a little about the one I’m currently finishing called Satisfy Your Soul by Bruce Demarest. It was lent to us by a friend who attended seminary where the writer teaches.
The reason I picked this book from all those we have that I haven’t yet read is because I was looking for something to encourage me in a deeper relationship with God, and I wanted a book that would not just tell me that I needed to spend time with God or why (I was familiar over and again with all of these reasons), but one that would teach me different ways to encounter God in a quiet time with Him without having to “conjure up” God.
In the beginning, the book actually started out explaining that meditation and contemplation was a very vital part of the Christian’s life and have been used since the early church to draw Christians into a deeper, more satisfying relationship with their heavenly Father. Showing that many evangelical type Christians have lost touch with the contemplative side of their faith–a practice advocated by many so-called mystics and litugical Christians–the author tried to explain that Christian meditation need not be confused with Eastern mysticism such as is present in Hindu, Islam, and Buddhist traditions. Just because these religions use meditation in a way that is unbiblical, does not mean that Christians should abandon the practice altogether.
The devil is going to make a counterfeit of anything God has for us to try to deceive believers or cause them to throw out Godly practices with the occultic ones. We must have discernment and wisdom, but also a heart open to the Spirit’s leading in our spiritual lives.
Anyway, the book continued to give practical ways that any Christian from any persuasion–Orthodox, Catholic, evangelical, charismatic, Protestant–could really grow in love with God and His Son Jesus and understand His ways better. I won’t go into much detail, but to mention some practices and spiritual writers he covers. Meditation, contemplation, prayers of the heart, pondering the written word, reading spiritual classics, and getting involved with spiritual helpers (i.e. spritual friendships, mentors, guidance, and directors) are some that stand out in my memory. The author recommends many great classical spiritual writers such as Augustine, Thomas a Kempis, Brother Lawrence, Teresa of Avila, Wesley, Tozer, Henri Nouwen, Richard Foster, and so many more. I am inspired to check out some of these classics for myself.
Most of all, the book encouraged me in my quiet times with God. Often, I would previously sit before God and try to think about verses, Jesus, worship songs, but would be mostly striving to feel God’s presence. But now, I’ve found ways to focus my attention of Him through short prayers, contemplating some attribute of God or Jesus, or just being thankful of His awesome love and mercy. We don’t have to let distractions steal away the experience of God’s presence, and we don’t have to settle for just knowing God is with us in our heads, but we can feel Him right with us in our hearts.
I hope to keep growing in love with Jesus and having Him become more and more real to me in my daily life. It’s refreshing to read this type of work from someone who is also firmly grounded in the word and committed to missions and taking the gospel to the world around them. I want a balance between the internal life of the spirit and the external life of acting upon what I know and believe.
Christian Music MP3s – Denison Witmer
Sorry I’m a day late for my blog. Life is busy…
I first heard Denison Witmer on the Invisible Children video, playing “Little Flowers,” a song about Jesus and St. Francis of Assissi. He played it so beautifully I needed to check him out. I guess you’d describe Denison’s music as indie/folk/pop. People say he’s “filling the void left by Elliot Smith” (according to iTunes). Well, I don’t know if I had a void left by Elliot Smith or not, but if it was there, I guess it’s been filled now. Denison is an excellent song-writer, and he doesn’t leave you feeling depressed like a lot of indie guys. Check him out.
From Wikipedia: “Denison Witmer is an indie singer-songwriter from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His first release was a cassette in 1995 entitled My Luck, My Love. He has released five LPs, a cover album (Recovered), two EPs, and an LP with his side project, The River Bends, which Witmer plays guitar and sings for with a backup band including members of Philly-based alt-country band One Star Hotel. His latest album, Are You A Dreamer?, produced by mentor Don Peris of The Innocence Mission and played on by Asthmatic Kitty artist Sufjan Stevens, has been given rave reviews by such opposite ends of the spectrum as Pitchfork Media and Entertainment Weekly.”
MP3s
Denison Witmer – 24 Turned 25
Denison Witmer – Leaving Philadelphia Arriving in Seattle (live)
Denison Witmer – Little Flowers (live)
If you like his songs, please support Denison’s career by buying his MP3s or CDs. From all I hear, he’s a great guy and he deserves your cash. What more reason to buy his CDs do you need than that? Besides, the MP3s are all saved in a low-quality, fast-download format, so if you want the real deal, buy his stuff.
Links
Denison Witmer’s website
Purchase Denison Witmer on iTunes
Purchase Denison Witmer at Amazon.com
Note: if you’re Denison Witmer and you don’t want these MP3s listed here, post a comment or e-mail me and I’ll delete them. Otherwise, they will be available here for about a month, and then they’ll be destroyed.
Tune in next week for thoughts on the latest books I’ve been reading. That is, if I have the time. I’ll be in Africa preaching the gospel, healing the sick, casting out demons, and bringing revival with the Cornerstone Boys, so I may not get to it in time. Maybe I’ll have my wife do a blog for me next week.
Messages from Bethel Church in Redding, CA
I’ve been listening a lot to Bill Johnson and his associate pastors, from Bethel Church in northern California. The church is seeing a revival in their city right now, with miraculous healings taking place, people preaching the Gospel in the malls, prophecies being given to city officials, etc. I figure that, if I want to see a revival where I am, then one great way to spur me forward is to listen to those who are in revival right now. Below are some of my favorites from the past few months. I converted them into a lower quality 16 khz 32 kpbs format, so they’re not as good as the originals, but they’ll download faster. If you want the higher quality originals, subscribe to the Podcast.
“Intimacy Before Victory” by Bill Johnson
In this message, Bill Johnson talks about our need to develop intimacy with God before we’ll see victory in our lives and our cities. This message made me want to spend more time just getting to know God. I tend to feel guilty spending time with God rather than doing something “productive.” But, really, the most productive thing we can do as Christians is hang out with God and become like Him.
Download the message here.
“Living Unoffended at God” by Bill Johnson
This is one of my all-time favorite messages I’ve ever heard. Bill talks about how we should deal with contradictions in our walk with God. For instance, the Bible says, “by His stripes we are healed,” yet you still have leukemia, or your mom still died of cancer, or whatever. What do we do when reality seems to contradict the word of God? Do we start justifying sickness (or failure, or pain, or sin), saying that it’s God’s will? Do we ignore the contradiction? How do we deal with a reality that sometimes doesn’t seem to line up with the Bible? This message was really encouraging. You really do need to listen to it. It’s just that good. Some stuff he says, I never saw before in the Bible. It’s really good. Did I mention it’s good?
Download the message here.
“Strengthen Yourself in the Lord” by Bill Johnson
This one is up there on my list of favorite messages too. Bill Johnson talks about how we need to make it a priority to strengthen ourselves in God. We can easily burn out if we just give and give and give and neglect our own need for time off with God. Great message if you’re in any form of leadership.
Download the message here.
“Living as an Overcomer” by Lance Jacobs
Lance Jacobs is the overseer for Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. I’ve only heard one message by him, and it’s this one. It was so good that it made it up here on my list of coolest sermons I’ve heard recently. He provides a nice balance to the other more pastoral sermons I have here about hanging out with God, strengthening yourself, and not being offended at God. In this message, Lance talks about how God uses ordinary people to change the world. Jacob was a deceiver, Moses was a wus, Gideon was a wimp, Paul was a terrorist, Peter was a hot-head… God will use ordinary, imperfect people to do extraordinary, supernatural things for Him. Our job is to be ready to go for it, and to obey when He calls us.
Download the message here.
Links
Website: ibethel.org
Podast: Bethel’s Sermon of the Week
Come back next week for MP3 files of some of the Christian music I’ve been listening to.
My usual Friday post will be tomorrow…
This week has been really busy, so I never got around to putting those sermons on-line that I said I’d do. So… instead of doing my post tonight, I’m gonna do Sermon Saturday tomorrow.
Get ready, kids, cuz this is gonna be amazing!
Photography Friday
As part of my blog restructuring, my update this week is focused on photography. Check back every third Friday of the month for more photography updates. My plan is to start every month talking about the book(s) I’m reading, then move into music I’m listening to, then photography, and close the month off with sermons I’ve listened to that were really great.
Anyway, this week is Photography! My camera recently died, so you get some older shots of our trip to Colorado in August. That was the last time my camera half-way functioned. The scenery was beautiful, but the camera’s auto-focus became an auto-out-of-focus and it couldn’t take color photos. So here you have the best of the black and whites. Enjoy! And please give me your comments, good and bad.
This is a shot of some high alpine trees in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
A shot of the high tundra in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was cold.
Another shot of the high alpine tundra. These rocks are shot up and sucked back down into the earth every year by the freezing and thawing of the ground. It was still cold.
A freezing cold high alpine lake along the highest paved road in the US. We were about 14,000 feet up.
Great Sand Dunes National Park. The 750-foot dunes were awe-inspiring.
A flower high on the dunes.
The dunes at sunset.
My daughter Naomi apparently worshipping the dunes. She loved playing in the sand, as did her parents.
Well, that’s it for this week. Enjoy the photography! Get ready next week for some links to the cool sermons I’ve been listening to. Some of them will really blow your mind.
GodWatcher 