I got asked to speak at MNDAY NiTE L!VE (our Monday night youth session)a couple of weeks ago. I was so amped but stressed off my rocker - havn't done this in quite some time and the nerves was strangling me a bit! I wanted to post that session to blog that same week but I got a bit preoccupied with the possibility of a job change and summercamp scriptwriting. To tell you the truth the idea came back to me in the shower over the weekend; after recapping the previous nights youth session and was one of the questions that came up.
That previous night was the other part of our youth ministry evening programs aptly named 'Fantastic Mister Friday' for all the obvious reasons. Usually we don't really have a program and things just developed into a combo of crazy & serious. Really fun because the kids are really honest and open - and best of all they don't hesitate for one minute! Be that in the form of a sitter of a remark or just some off-topic random question - it makes me frown and smile all at the same time. And it was out of yet another one of these crazy & serious talks that the question arised - 'Does Jesus really love gays?' Let me paint the picture; It was really a hit and run question session that touched on many topics from Biblical credibility, drugs, atheism and the church. In the end I shortly shared with the guys how I nearly derailed my own destiny as a Christian a couple of years back. At that time I wasn't fitting in too well with the general church crowd and felt a bit judged in a place that was my home at that stage. Just to clarify this feeling wasn't linked to church as a congregation or denomination but to Christians (as body) themselves. I was looking around me and saw many Christians that was not loving towards anybody outside of their demographic & peer groups. And at that time I found it most visible in socio-economic groups and in people with 'alternative sexual preferences' - and that bothered me as I couldn't imagine that that was an accurate representation of Jesus Christ. (This initial discovery led me on a long critical evaluation of how I see and understand church as well as the many rituals and acts that we many times think influences our relationship with God. Most of which is ridiculously ritualistic and hedonistic.) And this is when that question came up; 'Does Jesus really love the gays?'
Selfishness (and hedonism) really becomes the issue; whether you are a Christian, Hindu, Atheist, French (they seem to have some thing going up there ;-)) or believe in the blue people - focusing on ourselves kind of impedes our ability to be loving and kind to others. (I know that the 'love your neighbor' thing is inherently a Christian principle and that other religions or schools might not place much value on this or not being selfish - although the standards and values are different I believe that acknowledging people is a major step towards a healthy society and indeed an act of selfless love.) Somewhere along the line we started thinking of Christianity as a 'Exclusive Love Club' - because it is us vs them...the blood-washed vs the bleeding. And we as the body of Christ is to blame for this grotesque misrepresentation of the head of this body. Jesus died so that we all may have abundant life - not just the lucky few, the elite, the important or the presidential. I might not know much but one thing I know is that I don't fall into any of those categories. I am not one of the lucky few, not elite, not the important or presidential. I am just a blessed sinner that knows that Jesus loved me enough. And yes, Jesus loves you no matter what label the world puts on you.
Who do I belong To?
Not Earth
Not world
Not Evil
Not mortals
Not wretches
Not horrors
Who do I belong to?
Unchanging
Unbreaking
Unfailing
Creator
Immortal
Eternal
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>project 86 - to sand we return
This is me at my darkest
Looking down from my tower to heaven
My reputation is what I am on the scale
In the eyes of mankind
The more I get beneath me,
The higher, and more out of reach
Teacher, which of us will be the greatest
We will wear compassion
We will wear it on our chests
And sing with love at our throats
Like a child, it's all I know
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>as cities burn - love jealous one, ove
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Friday, October 01, 2010
Oh, mystery!
I decided to start blogging again.(yes ammo, you have something to do with this :-))I just realized that getting slaughtered by a big wave at Derdesteen is a) noteworthy and b) quite humbling. Don Snorro, my estimable flatmate, did not last very long and Don Juan, aka me, got spat out by s huge wave shortly after Don Snorro swam for safety. I didn't feel to welcome. Taking heed of this warning we packed up and returned to more 'friendly' sunny pastures. On the way back, halfway asleep with Something Corporate soothing my pancake batter brain; some synapses managed to make contact and refused to let sleep take hold of me. I kinda remembered that I wanted to do a blog entry yesterday about something strangely cool that was drifting like a little sailboat on my pancake batter brain waves.
Let me first start by with some clarity; I tend to draw issues of faith, life, church (as in the body), family etc into most of my blog entries - I have an inability of separating the lot. I have tried desperately in the past but somehow it always felt a bit lacking. So back to the entry. Lately I have been entertaining the thought of the working at a bar part time for a couple of nights a week. Just to clarify - entertaining and not considering. You are probably already a bit shocked at the contradiction of working for a church and a bar..."Serving poison to poison their souls!".."My dear Watson..what have we done!" If your brain is speeding faster than the speed of light to find sense in this...then good. I am however not going to give you my take on this now but leave you with a couple of thought and quotes. Go read them and take time to think about it...and if possible please share with me what your thoughts. I am really interested in the little boat sailing your pancake batter brain waves! (PS...Just for the record - I am not planning on taking a job as a barkeep. Barkeep is just an example to come to a much bigger conclusion. Something this drastic will need a drastic sign from the heavens!)
"don't blame the dark for being dark, blame the light for not shining on the dark"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>xxxchurch.com
"For a long time Christians have been taught a three-step approach to God. It starts with belief. Essentially if you believe the right things, it will lead to a change in behavior. When you have changed your behavior, you will be accepted by the church. Believe, Behave, Belong......Imagine a church or community where Jesus was communicated in such a way that everyone belonged. They were included. And from this feeling of belonging, over time the message of Jesus made an impact on their belief. And from that new found fullness of God, their behavior changed."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Craig Gross & Jason Harper
"wat jy doen moet lewens-gewend wees"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Ds Jan van Schoor
"God the Father will provide opportunities for all His children to have the opportunity to meet with Him; irregardless of the culturally acceptable way or popular opinion."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>some other guy :-)
Let me first start by with some clarity; I tend to draw issues of faith, life, church (as in the body), family etc into most of my blog entries - I have an inability of separating the lot. I have tried desperately in the past but somehow it always felt a bit lacking. So back to the entry. Lately I have been entertaining the thought of the working at a bar part time for a couple of nights a week. Just to clarify - entertaining and not considering. You are probably already a bit shocked at the contradiction of working for a church and a bar..."Serving poison to poison their souls!".."My dear Watson..what have we done!" If your brain is speeding faster than the speed of light to find sense in this...then good. I am however not going to give you my take on this now but leave you with a couple of thought and quotes. Go read them and take time to think about it...and if possible please share with me what your thoughts. I am really interested in the little boat sailing your pancake batter brain waves! (PS...Just for the record - I am not planning on taking a job as a barkeep. Barkeep is just an example to come to a much bigger conclusion. Something this drastic will need a drastic sign from the heavens!)
"don't blame the dark for being dark, blame the light for not shining on the dark"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>xxxchurch.com
"For a long time Christians have been taught a three-step approach to God. It starts with belief. Essentially if you believe the right things, it will lead to a change in behavior. When you have changed your behavior, you will be accepted by the church. Believe, Behave, Belong......Imagine a church or community where Jesus was communicated in such a way that everyone belonged. They were included. And from this feeling of belonging, over time the message of Jesus made an impact on their belief. And from that new found fullness of God, their behavior changed."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Craig Gross & Jason Harper
"wat jy doen moet lewens-gewend wees"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Ds Jan van Schoor
"God the Father will provide opportunities for all His children to have the opportunity to meet with Him; irregardless of the culturally acceptable way or popular opinion."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>some other guy :-)
Sunday, September 19, 2010
No, I don't you speak christianeseee
Two pretty awesome quotes pertaining to the Christian life; might be a bit hard but I kinda like them :-)
I've met a lot of Christians who say, 'If people knew about all of my struggles and weaknesses, they would never want to be Christian.' I think just the opposite is true. If people really knew what idiots we are, in all our brokenness and vulnerability, they would know that they can give this thing a shot too. Christianity is for sick people. Rich Mullins used to say, 'Whenever people say, 'Christians are hypocrites,' I say, 'Duh, every time we come together we are confessing that we are hypocrites, weaklings in need of God and each other.' We know we cannot do life alone, and the good news is that we don't have to. We are created for community. - p 254, The Irresistible Revolution, Shane Claiborne.
Being salt and light demands two things: we practice purity in the midst of a fallen world and yet we live in proximity to this fallen world. If you don't hold up both truths in tension, you invariably become useless and separated from the world God loves. For example, if you only practice purity apart from proximity to the culture, you inevitably become pietistic, separatist and conceited. If you live in close proximity to the culture without also living in a holy manner, you become indistinguishable from fallen culture and useless in God's kingdom. - Fine Tuning Tension within Culture: The Art of Being Salt and Light, Mike Metzger
I've met a lot of Christians who say, 'If people knew about all of my struggles and weaknesses, they would never want to be Christian.' I think just the opposite is true. If people really knew what idiots we are, in all our brokenness and vulnerability, they would know that they can give this thing a shot too. Christianity is for sick people. Rich Mullins used to say, 'Whenever people say, 'Christians are hypocrites,' I say, 'Duh, every time we come together we are confessing that we are hypocrites, weaklings in need of God and each other.' We know we cannot do life alone, and the good news is that we don't have to. We are created for community. - p 254, The Irresistible Revolution, Shane Claiborne.
Being salt and light demands two things: we practice purity in the midst of a fallen world and yet we live in proximity to this fallen world. If you don't hold up both truths in tension, you invariably become useless and separated from the world God loves. For example, if you only practice purity apart from proximity to the culture, you inevitably become pietistic, separatist and conceited. If you live in close proximity to the culture without also living in a holy manner, you become indistinguishable from fallen culture and useless in God's kingdom. - Fine Tuning Tension within Culture: The Art of Being Salt and Light, Mike Metzger
Friday, December 18, 2009
the joys of passing out on the couch
So I am finally back at home again and in a good enough collective state (emotional, mental, physical - you get the picture) to write an entry for a change. I am sitting on my couch listening to Copeland's latest album (Your Are My Sunshine) while trying to feed the little monster that lives in my tummy some TUBES cheese flavored snack - a product that seriously needs reconsideration! Everything is minimalistic about this snack; the packaging, the logo, the slogan, the kilojoules and even the taste. The only highlight being the little man on the back that is trying to chuck this minimalistic product into a little criss-cross black bin. Who calls there product TUBES anyway? Really obnoxious; almost like calling your camp LIVE! :-)
I am still wearing my summercamp t-shirt btw - we finished wrap-up today and I needed something I could sweat on (and sometimes cry on) that was already over saturated with saline. After all, "nobody wears last years shirt!" - a statement I made at a meeting a couple of weeks ago and oh boy, was I proven wrong time and time again! You remember that old raggedy hand-me-down, hand stenciled brown shirts? The ones that started out as "SCOB" and ended up as "unbelievable" after a certain amount of washes? The worst of the worst of kindergarten art attempt at making something that was very low in the "Aww" and "Cute" factor.
Seven days before summercamp Willie and myself was on our way to a petrol station on the N1 - to drop off tents for the Potch team that was traveling in the most luxurious of third class transport and it turned out that it took them quite some time to get down to Cape Town. We arrived at our destination; almost 10 hours overdue on our original deadline and could see a couple of guys playing soccer next to the bus - and lo and behold; at least two of them were wearing the 'SCOB' shirts! And theirs still had 'SCOB' printed on them (must have been from the batch that I used poweraid or minutemaid to thin the paint with). Willie, of course, without missing a beat almost immediate said; "Hey, Juan, no one wears last years shirts..." "Apparently not", I replied.
This challenged me a bit - obviously there were many people that summercamp really meant a lot to. This could so easily have been something that only we care aabout; a small-minded social event for guys/girls that have nowhere to go during the first weeks of their holiday. But kids came back for their 2nd, 3rd and even 4th time - still wearing last years death-defying really uncool and seriously unfashionable shirt. This is all more evident in all the facebook posts, the photos, the testimonies, the texts and conversations that all took place since camp ended yesterday afternoon. God really gave us something special here; a little sanctuary of grace where Jesus really wants to throw His carpenter arms around us and bear hug us! This is the reason why I am still wearing my shirt today; I never want this to end.
Never want us to end.
Never want us to miss...His heartbeat.
...the opportunity of selfless sacrifice.
...an encompassing peace.
...an everlasting joy.
...the chance to testify.
...the opportunity to dance and sing.
...the time to cry.
...the time intercede.
...the opportunity to love.
...the opportunity to surrender.
...the chance to repent.
...the opportunity to start over.
...the opportunity to encourage.
...the opportunity to see lives change.
...the realization of hope.
...the revelation of Christ.
We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony; everyone, overcome. What happened on camp could not have been orchestrated by any of us - God came in like a flood and did what He wanted to do. All glory to Him for the outcome and for knitting together such a great team of people! I am truly blown away at how much sacrifice, time and money it took for most of you to be there. Knuckles to all of you for your diligence, hard work and honesty - this year was truly something to treasure.
We will wear compassion
We will wear it
And the gates of Hell
They won't stand, they won't stand against it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>as cities burn - gates
I am still wearing my summercamp t-shirt btw - we finished wrap-up today and I needed something I could sweat on (and sometimes cry on) that was already over saturated with saline. After all, "nobody wears last years shirt!" - a statement I made at a meeting a couple of weeks ago and oh boy, was I proven wrong time and time again! You remember that old raggedy hand-me-down, hand stenciled brown shirts? The ones that started out as "SCOB" and ended up as "unbelievable" after a certain amount of washes? The worst of the worst of kindergarten art attempt at making something that was very low in the "Aww" and "Cute" factor.
Seven days before summercamp Willie and myself was on our way to a petrol station on the N1 - to drop off tents for the Potch team that was traveling in the most luxurious of third class transport and it turned out that it took them quite some time to get down to Cape Town. We arrived at our destination; almost 10 hours overdue on our original deadline and could see a couple of guys playing soccer next to the bus - and lo and behold; at least two of them were wearing the 'SCOB' shirts! And theirs still had 'SCOB' printed on them (must have been from the batch that I used poweraid or minutemaid to thin the paint with). Willie, of course, without missing a beat almost immediate said; "Hey, Juan, no one wears last years shirts..." "Apparently not", I replied.
This challenged me a bit - obviously there were many people that summercamp really meant a lot to. This could so easily have been something that only we care aabout; a small-minded social event for guys/girls that have nowhere to go during the first weeks of their holiday. But kids came back for their 2nd, 3rd and even 4th time - still wearing last years death-defying really uncool and seriously unfashionable shirt. This is all more evident in all the facebook posts, the photos, the testimonies, the texts and conversations that all took place since camp ended yesterday afternoon. God really gave us something special here; a little sanctuary of grace where Jesus really wants to throw His carpenter arms around us and bear hug us! This is the reason why I am still wearing my shirt today; I never want this to end.
Never want us to end.
Never want us to miss...His heartbeat.
...the opportunity of selfless sacrifice.
...an encompassing peace.
...an everlasting joy.
...the chance to testify.
...the opportunity to dance and sing.
...the time to cry.
...the time intercede.
...the opportunity to love.
...the opportunity to surrender.
...the chance to repent.
...the opportunity to start over.
...the opportunity to encourage.
...the opportunity to see lives change.
...the realization of hope.
...the revelation of Christ.
We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony; everyone, overcome. What happened on camp could not have been orchestrated by any of us - God came in like a flood and did what He wanted to do. All glory to Him for the outcome and for knitting together such a great team of people! I am truly blown away at how much sacrifice, time and money it took for most of you to be there. Knuckles to all of you for your diligence, hard work and honesty - this year was truly something to treasure.
We will wear compassion
We will wear it
And the gates of Hell
They won't stand, they won't stand against it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>as cities burn - gates
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Saturday, August 01, 2009
The First Breath After A Coma
Finally got to the place where can write the next blog entry. Been kinda hard figuring out what to say because it has been on my heart (more than my mind) ever since we got back from Springbok a couple of weeks ago. Just for a quick update; we (LifeLigtht youth ministry)went on a mission trip to Springbok with a team of 48 people from Stellenbosch, Worcester and Paarl. The primary focus was to help with the launch of Shofar Springbok but also work with the kids in the rural communities of Bergsig and Matjieskloof. A really hectic and blessed experience all the same that I unto now still can't quite put into words or manage fragmented conversations about. It is difficult to put into words what is going on inside of me; the burning, the longing; the feeling that everything inside of me is just waiting to escape and my body is the only thing keeping everything intact. This forces my world to a standstill daily, to acknowledge and to wonder what really is going on. But the kiefest thing of all is that I know there is 50 odd people that is feeling the same way I do and is going through the same motions as I am. But it might be even more than that...
After two weeks of seemingly non stop conversations on adaptation, the western culture, work environment etc; it is still hard fitting into the busy western mold that I so eagerly left behind. It is almost like my paradigm shifted when I went on missions and experienced the brokenness and (at the same time) joy these people had. It is as if the brokenness, pain and suffering is so much more vivid and it reaches so much deeper inside my heart than it ever did here in Stellies. I am not saying that there is any more brokenness where I live; but being out of my comfort zone without my work and other distractions to preoccupy me everything just seemed so much clearer and felt so much more real. One thing I remember from all the post-missions chats is that a fried of mine explained it as 'operating in a currency of love'; they have nothing to give but yet they give freely, because they know that the only thing they can give is love, friendship and family.
Probably the toughest thing for me when I came back was the realization of how hard this western lifestyle made us; waking up listening to the continues fighting and cussing of my next door neighbours....or waving at a total stranger in the street only to get a stone-cold stare in return. But we are at the right place in the right time. Sure it would be easy to escape back to Springbok. Just pack up and leave. But the truth is that going back alone without the team and the covering would be as good as suicide. Only in God's timing and in His grace were we able to move there with Godly success: He prepared the way before us up there...and He prepared the way before us down here.
Who do I belong To?
Not Earth
Not world
Not Evil
Not mortals
Not wretches
Not horrors
Who do I belong to?
Unchanging
Unbreaking
Unfailing
Creator
Immortal
Eternal
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Project86 - To Sand We Return
"I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." John 5:19
After two weeks of seemingly non stop conversations on adaptation, the western culture, work environment etc; it is still hard fitting into the busy western mold that I so eagerly left behind. It is almost like my paradigm shifted when I went on missions and experienced the brokenness and (at the same time) joy these people had. It is as if the brokenness, pain and suffering is so much more vivid and it reaches so much deeper inside my heart than it ever did here in Stellies. I am not saying that there is any more brokenness where I live; but being out of my comfort zone without my work and other distractions to preoccupy me everything just seemed so much clearer and felt so much more real. One thing I remember from all the post-missions chats is that a fried of mine explained it as 'operating in a currency of love'; they have nothing to give but yet they give freely, because they know that the only thing they can give is love, friendship and family.
Probably the toughest thing for me when I came back was the realization of how hard this western lifestyle made us; waking up listening to the continues fighting and cussing of my next door neighbours....or waving at a total stranger in the street only to get a stone-cold stare in return. But we are at the right place in the right time. Sure it would be easy to escape back to Springbok. Just pack up and leave. But the truth is that going back alone without the team and the covering would be as good as suicide. Only in God's timing and in His grace were we able to move there with Godly success: He prepared the way before us up there...and He prepared the way before us down here.
Who do I belong To?
Not Earth
Not world
Not Evil
Not mortals
Not wretches
Not horrors
Who do I belong to?
Unchanging
Unbreaking
Unfailing
Creator
Immortal
Eternal
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Project86 - To Sand We Return
"I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." John 5:19
Thursday, June 18, 2009
SMC
So, i got back tonight from cell with all the youth staff, volunteers and elders; and in normal fashion my inability to communicate ended up in social suicide again! It was just past 9pm as I dragged myself into the flat popped on the kitchen light and plopped down on the couch in the dimmed lounge.
Yup, a truly sad tale of loneliness, destruction....heart ache...and other words scripted by human emotion. :-) Anyhow, thoughts were still racing through my head from the discussion at cell but somewhere between the limousine crash on turn three (just after the hairpin right) my eye caught a book lying on our ikea-like white beach shelf (that by the way does an really impressive job of storing music and red wine at this moment). I couldn't really remember much of the content except that it was extremely funny, extremely weird (at times) and had a killer last chapter.
Just to clear up some confusion that might have already crept in at this point the book is a book by Andrew Schwab titled "It's All Downhill From Here: On the Road With Project 86." Andrew is the frontman of said band Project 86 and the following is said by Brandon Rike of Dead Poetic of this writing: "His bluntness is extraordinary and his willingness to say those things that no one wants to say should secure his place as one of the most honest lyricists in this era of music." Sounds promising, right? If at this point you still don't have a clue what I am on about or who Project 86 or Dead Poetic are, just read on; there is still hope for you young one!
I remember ordering this book from amazon a couple of years ago when at a time in my life when I was still really confused about who I was; not only as a person but who I am in Christ and wondering why religion doesn't make any sense and how I would never be able to fit that mold. Well, by grace in the meantime I've been able to figure out that religion is a club where apathetic people can sit and play poker while smoking cigars and wonder where God is and why the world doesn't want to play house with them. It is really crazy how religion turned out to be everything that is false and condescending of Christ-like faith.
Anyway, back to the book...if I could post the last 15 pages directly to this blog, I would; but I don't think it will go down well with the authorities. The chapter was written in the "Truthless Heroes" recording years with Atlantic Records. To make a long story short they got this deal through their friends in POD to release their third studio album through Alanitic and hopefully follow in POD's footsteps from "small upcomming Christian band to major mainstream success." Mainstream pressure; radio airplay; lyric content reflecting bad on iraq; too pollished; blah blah; record ended up being unlike previous edgy recordings. This brings us back to the story. They just finished playing a small gig at a dodgy bar with a bad reputation where Andrew counceled a heroin junkie, led him to salvation, gave him his bible and succesfully confinced him to go to a rehab and fight for his life. 18 hours later they stop at a fuel station where they get confronted by a christian "car-mechanic crusader" that totally rips them apart for "not presenting Christ to the world" and "turning their backs on God" all based on them playing a skanky bar in a dodgy part of town and two prank tour poster (of TATU and the Olsen Twins) that was up in their van.
I don't even know if this post really has a vivid point; maybe it's just not to judge people, or to warn you about that really big chasm that is between religion and Christ (God and faith). Whatever comes our way, tell me...for now I am going to bed.
I made my way back to the merch booth after
A man confronts me, smiling ear to ear
The sweat is dripping from his face in gallons
And all he wants to do is shake my hand
(Then he) stops to tell me he'd be six feet under
That's if it wasn't for our caveman jams
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>project 86 - caveman jam
Bleed out my wounds, Bleed out my wounds
And break free to shed cocoons
My second taste of you is the end
All I need to breathe anew
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>project 86 - a toast to my former self
Yup, a truly sad tale of loneliness, destruction....heart ache...and other words scripted by human emotion. :-) Anyhow, thoughts were still racing through my head from the discussion at cell but somewhere between the limousine crash on turn three (just after the hairpin right) my eye caught a book lying on our ikea-like white beach shelf (that by the way does an really impressive job of storing music and red wine at this moment). I couldn't really remember much of the content except that it was extremely funny, extremely weird (at times) and had a killer last chapter.
Just to clear up some confusion that might have already crept in at this point the book is a book by Andrew Schwab titled "It's All Downhill From Here: On the Road With Project 86." Andrew is the frontman of said band Project 86 and the following is said by Brandon Rike of Dead Poetic of this writing: "His bluntness is extraordinary and his willingness to say those things that no one wants to say should secure his place as one of the most honest lyricists in this era of music." Sounds promising, right? If at this point you still don't have a clue what I am on about or who Project 86 or Dead Poetic are, just read on; there is still hope for you young one!
I remember ordering this book from amazon a couple of years ago when at a time in my life when I was still really confused about who I was; not only as a person but who I am in Christ and wondering why religion doesn't make any sense and how I would never be able to fit that mold. Well, by grace in the meantime I've been able to figure out that religion is a club where apathetic people can sit and play poker while smoking cigars and wonder where God is and why the world doesn't want to play house with them. It is really crazy how religion turned out to be everything that is false and condescending of Christ-like faith.
Anyway, back to the book...if I could post the last 15 pages directly to this blog, I would; but I don't think it will go down well with the authorities. The chapter was written in the "Truthless Heroes" recording years with Atlantic Records. To make a long story short they got this deal through their friends in POD to release their third studio album through Alanitic and hopefully follow in POD's footsteps from "small upcomming Christian band to major mainstream success." Mainstream pressure; radio airplay; lyric content reflecting bad on iraq; too pollished; blah blah; record ended up being unlike previous edgy recordings. This brings us back to the story. They just finished playing a small gig at a dodgy bar with a bad reputation where Andrew counceled a heroin junkie, led him to salvation, gave him his bible and succesfully confinced him to go to a rehab and fight for his life. 18 hours later they stop at a fuel station where they get confronted by a christian "car-mechanic crusader" that totally rips them apart for "not presenting Christ to the world" and "turning their backs on God" all based on them playing a skanky bar in a dodgy part of town and two prank tour poster (of TATU and the Olsen Twins) that was up in their van.
I don't even know if this post really has a vivid point; maybe it's just not to judge people, or to warn you about that really big chasm that is between religion and Christ (God and faith). Whatever comes our way, tell me...for now I am going to bed.
I made my way back to the merch booth after
A man confronts me, smiling ear to ear
The sweat is dripping from his face in gallons
And all he wants to do is shake my hand
(Then he) stops to tell me he'd be six feet under
That's if it wasn't for our caveman jams
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>project 86 - caveman jam
Bleed out my wounds, Bleed out my wounds
And break free to shed cocoons
My second taste of you is the end
All I need to breathe anew
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>project 86 - a toast to my former self
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