The Cross and the Jukebox - A Recommendation
The movie High Fidelity focuses on the owner of a record store and his ups and downs in life. This man doesn't own a record store for mad profits; he owns it because he loves music. Music speaks to his soul as art, and he can't get enough of it. When wooing a lady he would make mix-tapes to express his feelings. Some of you reading this get what I'm saying, while others may like music some, but don't really get into it that much. And that's okay.
But if you love music, if you define it as an art, if your moods, emotions, and past experiences in life have a soundtrack to them, then I highly recommend checking out Russell Moore's podcast series "The Cross and the Jukebox." Moore focuses mostly on country music, but there are some folk, pop, and rock songs he includes as well. Moore's series includes songs of pain, brokenness, and hurt, as well as others that speak to situations in our country's past as Moore relates each song to the message of the gospel.
In High Fidelity the characters often discuss "top-five" songs for certain occasions. Recently, a friend of mine asked for my top-five songs that cause theological contemplation:
1) "Casimir Pulaski Day" by Sufjan Stevens
This song is a story about a boy remembering a friend who died of cancer when they were young. He sings about a night at Bible study when "we prayed over your body, but nothing ever happens." Toward the end he sings about Jesus and says that he "takes and he takes and he takes." There is a double meaning to Jesus' taking. He took his friend. She died. But he also took our place.
2) "Intervention" by Arcade Fire
This song speaks of someone fighting battles for the church but losing the war at home. A haunting line describes someone "singing hallelujah with the fear in your heart." I've thought of it before when singing in my church.
3) "I Will Follow You into the Dark" by Death Cab for Cutie
This band's name doesn't ever fit their music, and this song is an honest look into what someone who left religion behind thinks about death. Strangely, he sings about holding his girl soon after death "in the blackest of rooms." Quite a contrast to the white light you often hear about.
4) "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles
"All the lonely people, where do they all come from? All the lonely people, where do they all belong?" Is not Christ's church meant to be a family so intimate that our community ought not have such lonely people among us?
5) "Time" by Pink Floyd
A poignant description of life as we grow up, grow old, and then find ourselves "hanging on in quiet desperation" with "plans that either come to nought or half a page of scribbled lines." Boy, life can leave you directionless without a guide. Know of any?
Well, that's my list. What would yours look like?
But if you love music, if you define it as an art, if your moods, emotions, and past experiences in life have a soundtrack to them, then I highly recommend checking out Russell Moore's podcast series "The Cross and the Jukebox." Moore focuses mostly on country music, but there are some folk, pop, and rock songs he includes as well. Moore's series includes songs of pain, brokenness, and hurt, as well as others that speak to situations in our country's past as Moore relates each song to the message of the gospel.
In High Fidelity the characters often discuss "top-five" songs for certain occasions. Recently, a friend of mine asked for my top-five songs that cause theological contemplation:
1) "Casimir Pulaski Day" by Sufjan Stevens
This song is a story about a boy remembering a friend who died of cancer when they were young. He sings about a night at Bible study when "we prayed over your body, but nothing ever happens." Toward the end he sings about Jesus and says that he "takes and he takes and he takes." There is a double meaning to Jesus' taking. He took his friend. She died. But he also took our place.
2) "Intervention" by Arcade Fire
This song speaks of someone fighting battles for the church but losing the war at home. A haunting line describes someone "singing hallelujah with the fear in your heart." I've thought of it before when singing in my church.
3) "I Will Follow You into the Dark" by Death Cab for Cutie
This band's name doesn't ever fit their music, and this song is an honest look into what someone who left religion behind thinks about death. Strangely, he sings about holding his girl soon after death "in the blackest of rooms." Quite a contrast to the white light you often hear about.
4) "Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles
"All the lonely people, where do they all come from? All the lonely people, where do they all belong?" Is not Christ's church meant to be a family so intimate that our community ought not have such lonely people among us?
5) "Time" by Pink Floyd
A poignant description of life as we grow up, grow old, and then find ourselves "hanging on in quiet desperation" with "plans that either come to nought or half a page of scribbled lines." Boy, life can leave you directionless without a guide. Know of any?
Well, that's my list. What would yours look like?
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