Street Guitar

I wish I could be there to watch him play! This street guitarist is AMAZING!!!

Hava Nagila

     You all know how much I love music. Well, I was listening to some cultural music and came across the iconic Hava Nagila. I looked up a translation of the lyrics and thought this would be a fun song to share with everyone.

     Wouldn't it be nice if American churches had iconic, happy songs to group-dance to?

HAVA NAGILA	LET US REJOICE & BE GLAD
Hava nagila, hava nagila Hava nagila ve-nis'mecha Repeat Hava neranena, hava neranena Hava neranena venis'mecha Uru, uru achim Uru achim belev same'ach	Let us rejoice, let us rejoice Let us rejoice and be glad Repeat Let us sing, let us sing Let us sing and be glad Awaken, awaken brethren Awaken brethren with a cheerful heart.

Here's some music to go with it!

Thunderstruck

These are two cello players from Croatia. They're AMAZING!!!

Memory Lane: Moon Garden

      Sitting outside. The Moon is full -- it even hurts my eyes looking at its brightness. The air is still cool, not yet filled with the thickness of summer's humidity. I'm on the square slab of cement we call a back porch. Mom has been working hard on our boarder garden (all around the porch are culinary herbs of every kind.) The lavender and sage turn a lighting-white silver in the moonlight. Lemon balm offers a sticky-sweat lemony candy aroma. Corsican mint brings a lush, thick ground cover.

     Everything is so alive. Spring still has its fingers wrapped around the garden. The less established plants are dwarfed by the bush-like largeness of the older plants, but the bright green of new growth cannot be hidden by the darkness. I look over the yard. There are two trees on the boarder of our property... I remember when the branches of one touched my head when I sat under it. It is much larger now; I'd have to reach up on my tiptoes to reach the lowest branches now... in fact, I might have to jump.

     Mom and Dad are with me. Mom wanted to enjoy the cool air after working hard in the sun all afternoon. It's 10pm now, and a little bit of what will become the morning's dew can be smelled in the air. Dad brought his acoustic bass outside; its brushed, black top turns white in the full moon's light. He's playing with a few different techniques and grumbling about the "invisible" fret markers. The little dots, marking the neck of the guitar, were painted nearly black on a black guitar... he was justified in his moaning, but it still made us laugh. Brilliant music, when he could find the right notes.

     I had my little acoustic guitar. I was working in an alternate tuning (double drop D) and finger picking some classic rock favorites of mine. Sometimes my fingers would stumble or get themselves tangled up -- much to my audio dismay. Dad would pause each time and allow my to regain my dexterity before resuming our music.

     Mom would sing when she knew the words or snap her fingers when she didn't.

     And all of us were happy.

     There are those few moments when we get to spend time in a moment and really live in that moment. These are the times when our soul soaks-in everything about that moment: smells, sounds, feelings, colors... Those points freeze into our minds and stay with us. These beautiful times are gifts from God -- gifts to be remembered during the hard times.

     My friend gave me wonderful advise to remember during those moments of pain and hurt. "Think of one thing that brought you happiness. It doesn't have to be big -- it can be small. Like the color of a flower or the smell of your favorite food."

     I'm a person that notices details -- at least I try to. Simple things like the type of font in a particular book, the number of points on a leaf, bubbles in boiling water, drawing faces in a foggy mirror after a shower, mugs of tea... each of these are precious gifts from God. These bring us little glimmers of hope when the world seems to be nothing but darkness.

     But God brings us hope through our memories.

Drifting

     Music is an enormous part of my life. This is one of my favorite musical pieced by Shaun Hopper. Take a break and enjoy some music ;)

Irish Jig/Drifting

Wings of the Dawn

     This is a very special Psalm to me. I remember being five years old and my father singing it to me -- guitar in hand -- and I singing along. Would it not be wonderful to bring back singing -- what I call "real singing" -- with real phrases and words to express our beliefs and devotion to God?

Psalm 139 (NIV)

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

¹ You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.

¹⁹ If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
    Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
    your adversaries misuse your name.
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
    and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
    I count them my enemies.
²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

     This is one of my favorite Hymns. Written by Martin Luther, this song has certainly stood the test of time for relativity. During the Nazi regime, when the military came to round up the Jews for concentration camps, a small group of outraged Germans walked with them singing this hymn -- they were martyred for their refusal to leave their Jewish friends.

     There are two versions of the song (one more classic, one more modern). Pay special attention to the lyrics; oh, that we Christians today could muster such words as back then...

Lyrics:

A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing.
Our helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe.
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right man on our side,
The man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He.
Lord Sabboth, his name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him.
His rage we can endure,
For lo, his doom is sure.
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers
Not thanks to them, abideth.
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also.
The body they may kill,
God's truth abideth still.
His kingdom is forever...

Classic Version:

Modern Version:

Perceptions - Fades Away

     I heard this song the other day, and I went crazy over how much I liked it! This song is "Perceptions" by Fades Away. The theme is the hypocritical Pharisees as they get ready to stone the repentant sinners.

Living the good life

You're so cool

It's easy to condemn the outside

Nothing can hinder your crusade

To purify the morally insane

Thank God you're not like them

With your hands held high

And perfection within

You're so much more worthy

(You're so deserving)

If you're so holy, take your place

And draw the first blood from me

When you cast that stone,

I'll try not to see your name

Sitting upon your judgement throne

Awaiting the next sick arrival

Waving your finger in the air

Assuming everyone is unaware

You're just as sick as the rest,

With your backbone gone and a hole in your chest

You perfect disaster

(You perfect disease)

If you're so holy, take your place

And draw the first blood from me

When you cast that stone,

I'll try not to see your name

(Your name)

When this is over,

And all the damage has been done

The weak will rise (the weak will rise)

And stand as one.

We are the helpless

We're growing stronger every day

We're not alone (We're not alone)

We're not afraid.

If you're so holy (holy, holy),

Take your place (your place, your place),

And draw the first blood from me

When you cast that stone,

I'll try not to see your name

(Your name)

Hymns - "After All That I've Done"

     I have (rather recently) been taken with old Church hymns. Not so much for the actual music -- I'm a rock-and-roll-girl through and through -- but I have come to appreciate the wonderful theological value that hymns hold. They are starting to become little treasure chests of hope and truth -- would that our songs today were to speak in such sound terms. *Please don't stone me!* But I don't care too much for modern Christian Contemporary music. If other people like that music WONDERFUL, but it really isn't for me.

     Now, before everyone grabs pitchforks and torches, let me continue with my respect to old hymns -- and I mean OLD! This hymn really struck a chord with me -- no pun intended! Paul's famous cry, "I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate," (Romans 7:15 NASB) sadly rings very true with me. I become so aggravated with myself for knowing the right thing to do, and yet choosing the very thing I despise. This is John Wesley's hymn: "After all that I have done." (For ease of reading, I have provided modern English where necessary):

1 After all that I have done,

Saviour, art thou [are you] pacified?

Whither shall my vileness run?
[Where will my evil-ness go?]

Hide me, earth, the sinner hide!

Let me sink into the dust,

Full of holy shame, adore!
[I am full of repentance and want to praise God!]

Jesus Christ, the good, the just,

Bids [Tells] me go, and sin no more.

2 O confirm the gracious word,

Jesus, Son of God and man!

Let me never grieve thee, Lord,
[Let me never disappoint you, Lord]

Never turn to sin again:

Till my all in all thou art,
[Until the time when my everything is in You]

Till thou bring thy nature in,
[Until You place Your perfect nature in me]

Keep this feeble, trembling heart,

Save me, save me, Lord, from sin!

     This hymn was written sometime during the 18th Century, but the cry is so relevant to today. The speaker -- the sinner -- acknowledges how sinful he is and how much in awe he is of the salvation of Christ. He expresses the desire to please God with all his actions, but he also cries in fear for his "feeble, trembling heart."

     It is my deepest desire to bring glory to God, but it seems my humanity is always getting in the way. Yet, if men were perfect, there'd be no need for a savior. As sinful humans, our only recourse is to continually recognize that God is King and Lord over our lives, in everything we are to please and honor Him. Yet, because we are fallen creatures who constantly sin, we are to daily seek repentance and a deeper relationship with God. By His mercy we are saved; by His grace we bring Him honor.

Fall Colors

     I live next to a large hill covered in trees. This is the time of year when the hill become alive with the wonderful colors of fall! Bright reds, golds, vibrant oranges make this hill a marvel to look at.

     This is God's creation. He created these scenes for us to enjoy. It's almost like a good-bye present from summer -- now that warm weather is gone, we need one last show before winter claims the world. It's important for us to take time to enjoy the sight. In spite of our busy schedules, we need to remember God and how magnificent He is. By stopping for just a few moments, we are acknowledging that God is our Lord and Provider -- He is the one who make us and made these beautiful fall leaves, is it not right that we give Him a little of our time?

     Something my family likes to do to remember God's creation is to take a fall drive. If you live in a big city or an area that does not have any trees, go to the library and check out a book on fall photography. My mother used to live in Los Angeles and this was one of her favorite pastimes. If you yourself cannot physically enjoy the spectacular show of fall colors, remember that God made it for you too. By looking at the wonders God has created, a small piece of His magnificence is known.

     For me, music is another way that I understand God. Music is filled with different emotions ranging from joy to sadness, anger to celebration. Knowing that God created music blows my mind every time I think about it. Here is a series of sounds that are not words but carry weight as though they were words. If notes go up it sounds happy. If the notes go down they sound sad. Faster music makes me want to dance. Slower music makes me want to think -- or sometimes sleep ;) But every song is different. Every genera is different. Good lyrics are important too. God made all of it.

     In a quote from Plato, "I would teach children music, physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning." After taking a class in music theory I completely agree. Music has everything in it and the fact God created it is wondrous to me.

     Take some time to enjoy fall. Remember that God is master and created everything for our benefit and enjoyment in the confines of His word. Through His law and grace we are set free to enjoy the marvels of music and nature.

Blood on the Nile

Joshua Perahia is a very good friend of my family. He just wrote and produced this song about the war in the Middle East. Joshua is about to come out with a new album and this is the first single.


"Blood on the Nile" is about how after thousands of years, people are still dying in the Middle East. This is a very real and patriotic song! May God Bless America!

Blood on the Nile

We a doing everything we can to make this video go viral! We want the word out! Joshua Perahia is back and kicking! Please ***LINK THIS VIDEO***

Music and Lyrics

For those of you that don't know me, I love music. Well, I had an interesting experience today with music and why listening -- I mean REALLY listening -- to lyrics is extremely IMPORTANT!

I really like the band The Script. I think they have a cool sound and the songs I've heard on the radio seem morally neutral. I decided to buy their CD so that I could enjoy them all the time in my car...

I unwrap the disc an slide it into my CD player and begin bouncing to some fun music when *BAM* the lead singer almost yells an atrocious curse word. I was shocked but continued to listen to the music because I really, REALLY liked it. After playing it a couple times, the swear word started getting to me; so, I decided to re-burn the disc without the curse (I have an editing program). Thinking my problem is now solved I keep having fun with the music.

*Today* I was walking with my Dad and started singing one of the songs from the CD. "So if you see Kay, will you tell her that I love her / And if you see Kay, let her know that I want her back". He looks at me funny and asks, "Who are you singing?" I explain to him about the CD I bought and that this was one of my favorite songs.

"Sing that part again," he asked; which I did. "Are you so naive that you don't even hear what you're saying?" he asked. Evidently I was when to my utter amazement and sheer horror, he told me that "if you see Kay" was a not-so-creative way of spelling out "the F-word".

Talk about a rain on my little party of innocence day. I nearly cried when I found out (not to mention being crushed that the band I liked was being deceptive.) Here I am, thinking I'm singing about a girl named "Kay" when I get hit with a bullet the size of a book of lyrics.

Let this be both a lesson and a warning to music lovers. Be careful what you listen to, and if there is even a hint of "inappropriateness" in an artist, there is probably WAY more (in unexpected places to say the least.)

*Sad Face* :(