This is another hymn in which I haven't sung in years (which is kinda sad because maybe if we sung it more in "contemporary/traditional" church we would remember to DO IT) but the minute I saw the title I started singing it as if no time has passed at all.  :)  Thereby proving that my long-term memory is just fine, it's my short-term that seems to suffer as I age - ha! So.  I'm trying REALLY hard to not write a very cynical summary of this hymn.  See, I agree 100% with the basis of this hymn.  Unfortunately the church at large doesn't practice this at all .  Like not even close.  "We" have fallen into the trap of thinking that if we throw some money at the problem or utter the words, "I'll pray for you" (when we know and they know we won't be) that is showing Christ's love.  WRONG.  Love, see, is practical most often.  It can't be shown or given through dollars or uttered words that mean nothing.  Love has to be hands on. 

David Bowie is finally making an appearance on the 365, thanks to my friend Misty!  :)  I'm not a Bowie fan AT ALL.  He was always a bit too weird for me and I never got into his music BUT plenty of people did! :)  I will say that obviously the man has "some" talent or he wouldn't have lasted as long as he has.  Misty shot this song my way as a fave of hers.  What is it about the Brit's?  They have a strange sense of humor, sense of style, sense of, well, self!  And maybe that's why, outside of The Beatles, I'm usually not a fan of any British artists.  Bowie is no exception except he is a brilliant (ha, that's a word they use all the time in England and surrounding areas!) artist.  Like I said above, he has something or else he wouldn't have lasted so long.  I listened to today's song, I read the lyrics.  It's okay. Not my fave but it doesn't have to be!  I think (?) from reading the lyrics that the song is about a fear of dying and

I can't believe I have gone 300+ days without putting Krystal on at least once already!  We love Krystal Meyers here in our house!  Krystal is amazingly talented vocally and musically.  She started young and is still young. Because of that she has taken a turn from her first two albums and her third was a departure from what everyone knew as her and her music.  It wasn't bad, in fact today's song is from that third album, but it was so different that she lost the momentum she had gained through her first two albums.  This is too bad because she really is very talented.  For an example of her two totally different styles I also put a favorite song of ours on today from her first album called "Fire".  Regardless of her music style Krystal has a heart for God and for reaching her peers with the heart of God. She writes her own music and can hold her own against a lot of other musicians/artists. Make Some Noise is a great song for a Friday.  Great dance beat (ha, as

I hadn't heard of Nickle Creek until my friend, Rick, suggested I listen to this song.  I love Rick's tastes in music because they are kinda ADHD.  :)  And so it's fun to hear what his playlists are spinning out from day to day.  Nickle Creek is kind of bluegrass but modern.  I actually listened in on another song of theirs and that will probably show up before the 365 ends.  This song is really good lyrically.  They draw a good word picture and it seems that, besides their musical abilities, Nickle Creek excels at drawing word pictures.  In today's song the picture is of scarred hands.  They use the scarred hands of Jesus to connect to some ways that we can be the hands of Jesus.  And they way they do it is with a subtlety that grows to an obvious awareness.  This song grew in popularity, or so I gather from comments and such, due to the 3rd verse in which a military man is used as one of the examples of scarred hands.  But I like the song for the overall message.  T

A little Blues for this Wednesday!  :) Muddy Waters does the Blues like nobody else.  He died in 1983 but not after providing amazing entertainment to thousands over the course of his years.  He released his first recorded song in 1948 and from that moment people were taken with his Blues.  He played a Delta Bottleneck Guitar and made those strings sing his backup.  He was quietly popular and throughout the trials of this nation kept playing his music and singing his songs.  He was, quite simply, one of the best.  My first memory of Blues (of any kind) is...Adventures in Babysitting (the movie).  I know.  So sad.  But in one scene Elizabeth what's-her-name is dragging the kids with her and trying to escape the bad guys.  They run into a Blues club and end up on stage (because in movies it always works that way) and have to sing their way off the stage.  But before she sings they had shown some of the real Blues and that's what I remember.  And I remember being so taken with th

So I kinda stole this song idea/artist idea from another artist, Danny Oertli.  And I have NO regrets about stealing it from him! :) Love Melanie Penn's voice!  Not only am I digging her voice and talent but I was checking her out at melaniepenn.com  and I like her as a person!  She wants to be authentic so she's doing what she's gotta do to make sure she is!  Read her blog on her site and you'll see what I mean.  Here's just a quick example of what I mean (from her blog): Look, lest ye stumble. I was walking today & caught my reflection in a window as I passed by it. Here were my thoughts: “Hmmmm – good outfit. It’s working. Hair’s getting long. Lookin good lookin good …” And then I tripped. Don’t have to go to Sunday school to figure this one out … if I keep my eyes on myself – and continue on my natural path of self absorption – I will surely stumble. And fall. S peaking of fall, it’s here. The seasonal kind, that is. The kind to be happy about. I hope

My friend Gary loves Lincoln Brewster like I love Steven Curtis Chapman.  Really.  And it's easy to see why, Lincoln plays an amazing guitar and writes great lyrics - just like Steven.  In fact, if they did a song together that would be UHMAZING.  :)  The difference between the two is that Brewster is like Chris Tomlin in terms of song content - mostly or all worship, which is great - and Chapman is more a "storyteller" and while his songs can be ones of worship you won't hear any church singing them on a Sunday morning.  :)  Anywho... Lincoln Brewster is a great artist and has a great heart for God.  You can tell by how he plays and sings. Some people aren't that good of actors.  :)  I really appreciate his music and I can't believe it took me until day 315 to get one of his songs on the experiment!  Gary probably can't believe it either - ha!  I chose this song by Brewster for today for a couple of reasons.  1) I really like it and since it's my bl

Our Father who art in heaven Hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us And lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. For ever and ever Amen. Need I say anything more?  I don't think so... Blessings to you this Sunday! The Lord's Prayer  - a 2 year old sings this hymn, you will NOT regret clicking on the link and listening to her.  It is GREAT! The Lord's Prayer - Andrea Bocelli...incredible.  The Lord's Prayer - Redruth (don't know who they are, never heard of them but their version of the song is great!) The Lord's Prayer - Perry Como :) 

Sir Elton John.  It totally fits him.  :)  Elton John is one of those artists that I have a mild like for.  I'm not really into his music at all but every so often he's recorded a song that I dig.  He's entertaining, that's for sure! The One is about that moment when you find "the one".  When he or she looks at you and eyes lock and so do hearts and you both just know.  Is that reality?  Every so often yes but not always.  The knowing definitely happens by the time you have both agreed to say "I do" to one another.  And knowing is important because there will be times in your 24/7 life together that you wonder if you did the right thing and then you can fall back on the knowledge that you DO know that he or she is the one.  The One

I can't be highlighting Country Music now and then without featuring Chris LeDoux.  He is as country as George Strait.  Even the great Garth Brooks sings about Chris LeDoux in at least one of his songs.  So today is dedicated to Chris LeDoux through his song, "Look At You Girl".  This is a great song lyrically.  I love a man that isn't afraid to affirm his woman.  This reminds me of my hub...aw.  :)  Lanny is always affirming me in ways that make me accuse him of being blind :) but are so sincere and genuine that I know he actually means what he says.  What a blessing! I hope you have people in your life that you know mean what they say to you and about you despite what you make think or feel about yourself! :)  Look At You Girl

Paul Colman is great.  And I particularly love this song by him.  (I wonder as I type that if people out there wonder if I don't love a song since it seems every blog I post I am loving the song!  Yeah I have songs I HATE.  Am I gonna feature them?  Probably not unless I do a week devoted to songs I hate....hmmmmmm.....*grin*)  So anyway, back to Paul Colman and the song for today.  Something about the beat of this song combined with the lyrics (of course) just draws me in!  I think what I love about the lyrics is that Colman calls all of us out.  We ALL question at some point.  But what doesn't change as we question is how much God loves us.  Even while we question him and our beliefs in him he still loves.  The thing that is important to remember about God's love is that it is different than how we love in our humanness. Our love is...tainted.  His love is...pure.  Our love could be diagnosed as unhealthy at times.  His love is healthy.  Back to the questions.  I think,

Nina Simone is one of those artists that I can always be in the mood for.  You know what I mean?  Like some artists/groups you just aren't in the mood for their music or their style but Nina Simone?  I can always get behind her music.  Simone had this deep voice that kind of takes one by surprise.  She was a classy lady who stayed true to her style and her sound.  She played piano like a dream.  There's not much more to say about Nina Simone, I'll just let her music speak. :)  Happy Wednesday! Feeling Good Bonus song! Love or Leave Me check out the piano playing in this song! Fantastic!

Even if today's song wasn't sung by one of my most fave artists ever, Brooke Fraser, I would still love it!  Thanks to my friend Jen who first clued me into the song about 3 years ago.  She called me up one day and said something to the effect of, "Beth! You will love this song that Brooke sings."  Jen knows me so well, she was right!  I did, and still do, love the song.  First of all, it's Brooke Fraser singing with the author of the song.  Of course I love it!  :) But what I REALLY love about the song is...c'mon by now you should know what really draws me...the lyrics!! :)  Powerful song of commitment to the Lord in all the seasons of life we go through.  As a bonus for today I included a video from the author of the song talking about the song and her life surrounding the time when they were getting ready to record the song.  I hope it touches you, moves you, challenges you.  See it's not hard to worship God when things are good and "right" a

My friend Marcia loves the version of Hallelujah done by Jason Castro so I'm putting it on today for her! :) Jason Castro was an AI contestant and didn't win his season but has gone on to do music anyway.  Btw, has anyone else noticed that with the exception of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood the majority of the winners have fizzled out but yet others who got voted off are doing well?  Interesting.  Anywho.  Can I just say, though, that I really wish he'd get rid of the dreads?  I find dreads to be DISGUSTING on so many levels.  They seriously gross me out.  There's this guy at one of "my" Panera's in town who has dreads and works with the food.  EW.  But I digress... There's no doubt about it, Jason Castro has a great voice.  He's talented and he does do a beautiful rendition of today's song.  What I don't get, really, is today's song.  I've heard it before but never paid much attention to all the lyrics.  Written by Leonard

When I was a kid in Sunday School I only remember singing the chorus to this song, I am sure in "big people" service I sang all the words but all that sticks with me is the chorus.  And really the chorus is the key part of the hymn to keep in mind and heart. "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey." In the almost 37 years of life that I have lived so far I find this to be more true than I ever thought.  When I have chosen to trust Jesus and to obey him then I have lived in true happiness.  And the happiness that comes from Jesus is really joy.  And joy is strong.  It is much stronger than happy feelings, it goes beyond the surface moment and lives deep.  We kick against the fact that we can only trust God, that he is the only one who we should give obedience to. We want it to be about us when at the end of anything it is always only about him.  Some of the biggest offenders of trusting and obeying God sit in church

I heard this song by Katie Herzig (and therefore was also introduced to her music for the first time) as I watched a video of all these amazing African children and this song was the background.  I love Katie's voice and music.  She really fits in perfectly with all the other artists that I find myself leaning towards in the past couple of years.  Shovel is about burying the pain, hurt, sorrow of life and finding a new way.  We can't hear the birds chirping or feel the sun shining until we make a choice to bury the dead things of our life and begin to seek things that are living.  And as we bury that which makes us sorrowful we can be assured the the light of God rests on us.  His light is always with us.  Shovel

Today's song highlights the song more so than the artist, although I love Tim McGraw.  But I love the song's author as well, Phil Vassar, so the song gets all the talk! :)  Phil Vassar, the author of the song, is a great musician in his own right.  He plays the piano like a genius and has a great voice.  I have always loved him.  Tim McGraw, the recorder of the song, is a great singer and I love all his music.  So it's like a dream to have two fave's come together to produce such a great song! I turned 30 a while ago (GRIN) and remember listening to this song and thinking, "yes!"  I love all the ways the song is suggesting to celebrate the next 30 years of life.  And I love it to because something happens when you turn 30.  Do those of you who have passed that milestone know what I mean?  It's kind of undefinable.  But it's like you become suddenly comfy in your own skin, it's like you settle down within yourself.  Oh sure there are other things l

Benjamin Dunn loves Jesus.  And so he sings about it.  He's not mainstream.  I have no idea why.  I have no idea why artists like Dunn, Gungor, Fraser, etc aren't "mainstream".  It's like the radio stations (Christian ones) are "afraid" of them.  Whatev.  I love me a good B&W photo, I love me a good color photo, and I really love me those photos that get touched up and are a mix of B&W and color.  I think my life with Christ is the mix of B&W and color.  I started off B&W but the more he and I walk together, the more I receive healing from him, the more I become who he created me to be the more color I gain.  So I'm a mix! ;) Someday, when he calls me home, I'll be full on color but until then I'm a mix.  You know what?  You are too.  But your levels of B&W and color depend on where you are at in your journey with him.  The point is that without Jesus we are B&W, he is the color...or colour :)...in our lives.  We migh

We've been invited.  The Creator of the universe, the Lover of our souls, the Protector of our lives, the Alpha and Omega has invited us to come "away" with him.  He's invited us on a great and wild adventure that supersedes any extreme sport ever tried or accomplished.  This adventure of life with him will be anything but dull, predictable, or even safe.  The journey with him will take us to places we have only dreamed about.  Really.  I'm not wishing this to be true, it IS true when you take his hand and go with him into the "wild blue yonder".  Come Away

So I'm walking through the grocery store the other day and kind of humming along with the music being piped throughout the store.  Wasn't paying attention until a particular note struck me as very familiar.  It was the B-52s!  And it wasn't Love Shack!  I'm not sure what song it was but it was, without a doubt, them.  You know what I'm saying right?  The B-52s are unmistakable in their sound and style.  Suddenly I was so happy in the middle of the grocery store.  The eldest redhead was with me and I am pretty sure she thought I had lost my mind...once again.  So I, of course, had to feature B-52s on the experiment!  They just make people happy.  On one of the comments to one of their songs (maybe today's featured?) someone wrote, "I want B-52s played at my funeral."  :)  I ended up choosing Love Shack for today's song because it is what put the B-52s on the mainstream map, musically speaking.  But I had to include Rock Lobster which was the inspir

A month or so ago my bestie, Mondi, posted this song/video on her FB and I stopped dead in my tracks.  WHAT!?  Peter Furler as in Peter Furler the former frontman for Newsboys?  Yep the very one and same.  Huh. He quit Newsboys like 2 years ago because he was "done".  Apparently not!  And with this song Furler proves why he can probably never be done!  As my husband, a musician himself, explains, music is in the blood when you are a musician.  Lanny is right because he himself hasn't stepped foot on a stage in years to play but we still have most of his equipment sitting downstairs... :)  But anyway, back to Furler. He is what we all think of when we hear Newsboys.  Michael Tait has done a great job but really the Newsboys under Tait's voice have turned from Newsboys into the band that back former DC Talk dude.  Let's just be honest.  Love the new songs "Newsboys" have been putting out but really all of them sound like Tait backed by a good band, they a

So here's a story for you that does have to do with today's hymn.  Many moons ago my hub was a long haired, drug dealin', drinking, porn addicted womanizer. For real.  And a girl caught his eye one day so he asked her out.  She said yes.  She happened to be a PK (Preacher's Kid).  He picked her up in his loud Mustang and her dad, Joe, about had a fit.  But she had some morals and wouldn't let my hub touch her so he thought maybe if he went to church with her and pretended to be interested in that "stuff" that he might get somewhere with her.  So he went...to a Church of Christ.  Now if you know anything about denom's you know that CoC's aren't real welcoming to long haired, drug dealin', drinking, porn addicted womanizers BUT he was with the PK so a miracle sort of happened.  They welcomed him.  I believe some of them even made eye contact with him! :) And he kept coming to church and one day he was reading a Bible they had given him and

Bon Iver.  What?  Bon Iver.  Beth, what are you talking about?  I'm talking about Bon Iver, that's his name! :)  Thanks to Jason who is broadening my musical tastes by suggesting (through Twitter but still!) this song by Bon Iver.  Actually this is Iver doing a cover of Bonnie Raitt's "I can't make you love me" which is, I'm pretty sure, the ONLY song of Raitt's that I ever liked so today's song is a win for me!  :)  And for kicks, and semi-comparison, I've included Raitt's as a bonus for today.  It's only right when Iver does such an incredible job of covering it.  I love the way in which Iver starts off the song with the piano, it's haunting in a way but oh so beautiful.  The controversy on this song is always man vs. woman.  Who pulls off the song better?  It's a song that gets covered a lot, some of the artists that have covered it are: Adele, Lady Antebellum, Tank (who the heck is that?  Oh never mind...), etc.  It's

Brad Paisley.  One of the funniest guys, one of the most talented musicians, and one of the most sentimental guys as well, it turns out!  :)  So my friend, Rick, has a wide range of musical tastes.  He's the one who recommended to me Jim Croce and here we are now with Brad Paisley!  :)  I believe when Rick threw this song my way he was also mentioning that when he listens to it he thinks of his wife the way the song describes.  Aw.  I love it when a man will speak up about his woman with love!  So really I don't need to say much about this song except listen to it!  :)  And then my hope and prayer for you is that if you have been married for any length of time you will be feeling this way about your spouse.  That you love them more now than you ever thought you could because you loved them then.  Then Bonus video - "Then" with pics from the movie that has sent every woman over the edge in sobs - The Notebook! :)  

I have never, ever, in my entire life heard of Eva Cassidy.  Ever.  And then one day my friend, Marcia, says something to the effect of, "Oh hey, you should listen to Eva Cassidy's Songbird."  HUH?  :) So I told her I'd add it to the list and take a listen.  So it seems Eva had this career but hardly anyone knew about her and then she passed in 1996 from cancer and is perhaps more listened to now than when she was alive.  Isn't it strange how that happens?  People becoming "famous" after they die?  I always feel bad for them in that regard.  Why are they good enough after death and not before?  It's just one of those Murphy's Law sort of things.  Eva has a very smooth, very pleasant, very strong voice.  Strong enough to do a duet with Michael Bolton on his newest album release! (Trying to figure out how a dead person can sing a duet with a live one?  Technology...)  She reminds me of music from the era of the Carpenter's, etc.  It has that

I don't think I have featured Switchfoot yet on the experiment!  That's just CRAZY! :)  Switchfoot is one of those bands that have songs sitting in all sorts of "camps".  You can catch them in movie soundtracks, TV shows, radio play, etc.  I really like Switchfoot, they have a great sound and their lyrical content in always meaningful.  Let there be no question about Switchfoot and their music - it is about God.  They are strong believers and their lyrics support that.  Some people want to take todays' song, for example, and say it isn't about God but IT IS.  The Creator of Love is who Switchfoot is singing about here.  So let's talk about it for a second.  God's love is like a melodious song that weaves itself throughout my days and my life.  It uplifts me and becomes the "background" music for all I am and all I do.  I hope that the same can be said of you.  I hope that you too can see and know God's love in your life because it's

For a white boy Marc Broussard can sure sing a good soulful song!  Wow!  I dig his gritty soul sound.  His name seems familiar to me but I'm not sure that I have actually ever heard his music.  Now, thanks to my friend Misty, I have!  Enjoy!  Home

Happy Birthday America and its citizens!  Today's song was easy, except it turned into three songs!  :)  But how could I not highlight today the songs that verbalize so well the great country we live in?  I had to include the ones that immediately come to mind.  America the Beautiful is my ABSOLUTE favorite of the day, I'm so glad I found the version I did.  I bawled like a baby listening to it. Enjoy!  America the Beautiful  - performed by all the Military Branch Academy's together...BEAUTIFUL!!  Literally brought me to tears!  The Star Spangled Banner - The Marine Band Proud to be an American - Lee Greenwood (it's like this is an unofficial national anthem so I had to include it!)

In Revelation 2:4 it says, "You have lost your first love."  My friend Emilie posed the question, "What does that mean" to some people and all the answers revolved around acts of doing in the Christian life.  You know, things like "I quit reading the Bible", "I haven't been praying", etc.  Um.  Were those things the first love?  'Cause I thought Jesus was and I'm pretty sure God has made it clear that Jesus is the love.  Call me crazy... The first verse of the hymn is what caught my eye and made me yell out, "Amen!" "Renew they church, her ministries restore: Both to serve and adore.  Make her again as salt throughout the land, and as light from a stand...." Church, return to your first love!  And your first love is not what you DO for Christ, it is just simply BEING with him!  Currently we are not salt and light in this world because we look so much like the world that nobody can tell the difference.  How do we

My bestie, Emilie, loves Manafest and they are just now starting to hit mainstream radio...FINALLY!  This particular song features the lead singer from Thousand Foot Krutch (TFK) singing the chorus.  I love the sound of Manafest doing their hip-hop/rap sound and then Trevor McNevan comes in and does his thing.  The show "Intervention" makes me think of this song.  The people on that show make me sad.  Without exception each of them are running hard and fast from something/someone.  From a wound or a hurt.  The cliche, "you can run but you can't hide", is actually true.  No matter how hard, fast, far, etc we try to run we can't outrun the One who created us and is with us at all times.  Try as hard as you want, you won't succeed.  Every time you run there is your Creator, right there with you.   Every Time You Run

So I have this love, I guess you would call it, for the song "Blackbird".  Originally composed, authored, and sung by The Beatles it has been done and re-done because it is so, well, GOOD!  :)  I really like Sarah McLachlan's version (it was featured on the "I am Sam" movie soundtrack) because I dig McLachlan's voice.  This past year some extremely gifted musicians (from Julliard) came together and through the leadership of Michael T and his arrangement played "Blackbird" for purchase to benefit an organization near and dear to my heart and our family, Wingspan Arts.  I, of course, had to feature that special edition on today's blog along with McLachlan and The Beatles!  Blackbird is about learning to fly, whether it is for the first time or after an "injury".  It's such a beautiful song about freedom.  Listen to all, or just one, of the versions and you might see why I am so drawn to the song.  My heart is always for people to