Time Heals Everything- A close look at "The Fray" by The Fray

This week’s album review comes from The Fray’s 2009 sophomore album entitled “The Fray.” I feel that “Time Heals”, an unreleased track from the album, could have been just as good a title for the album. The album is full of vulnerability and pain. Band members Isaac Slade and Joe King dig deep into their pasts and put their hearts on the line on this record. The album radiates musical maturity that the band just didn’t have on their first record “How To Save A Life.” From the first notes of the first track “Syndicate” the listener can tell that they are in for something a little bit different with this record. The band went through a lot of frustrations in making this album, which can be seen in their documentary “Fair Fight.” The album cries of these frustrations and troubles and it gives the listener a unique experience that was born out of making the record. “Where the Story Ends” is a great, upbeat track that couples with it sad lyrics at the same time. This song nearly killed the band, but because of their endurance and perseverance it ends up being one of the best tracks on the record.

                Isaac and Joe, once again, provide two tracks that will keep you listening again and again. “Ungodly Hour” and “Happiness” are those feel good sad songs. I know that sounds like a contradiction, but I think you know what I mean when I describe them in this way.

                “Ungodly Hour” is a song that many listeners can relate to as it speaks of lost love and how the titular character wishes they could carry the baggage and the pain of the relationship, but the time for that has passed.

“Happiness” is a unique work of art. The lyrics describe a scene in which the titular speaker is missing someone and is telling how the happiness he had is now killing him because his love is away from him, but then in the end he reconciles this pain by saying that “one day you’ll wake up and she’ll be home.” One of most interesting lyrics from this song is “Happiness will damn near destroy you.” At first this may not make sense to you, but if you consider how you would feel if your husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend was away from you thousands of miles away for an extended amount of time, I think you will understand the pain behind the statement.

                This record will keep you singing and thinking. The Fray delivers one of the best albums of alternative rock and with their third record, “Scars and Stories,” it doesn’t look like they will be slowing down for a good while. 

Mumford and Sons "Sigh No More" Review

               I've been away from the blogosphere for a while, but now that I have a little more time and determination I am going to be doing weekly album reviews to get everyone pumped and ready for fall. There is so much great music out there and my hope is that I can direct you towards a few of the ones that have made an impression on me. My first one is not new, but if somehow you've missed it or haven't given it a listen in a while then I hope this review while inspire you to buy or even dusk off your copy of "Sigh No More" by Mumford and Sons.
                The English Quartet's debut offers a great breath of fresh air from the mainstream that usually vies for your musical attention. The quartet begins their record off with the title track "Sigh No More." With Shakespeare inspired lyrics Frontman Mumford encourages listeners to serve God and to love. He not only pulls lyrics from Shakespeare, but also from 1 Corinthians 13; and while it isn't a direct quote from the scriptures, it's paraphrase that challenges the listener none the less.
                From there the band pushes into one of their biggest hits "The Cave." This song transcends its melody and pulls on the heartstrings of the listener by telling the audience that "I will hold on hope, and I won't let you choke on that noose around your neck, and I''ll find strength in pain, and I will change my ways and know my name as it's called again." The lyrics evoke a sense of genuine love and a call to arms for the audience to love and to endure through pain so that we, as people, can help those around us who are in need. A theme of spirituality weaves its way intricately throughout the record with songs like "Awake My Soul" and "Timshel." Mumford dared to go beyond the usual of just normal bubblegum love songs and to openly put his heart on the line for the listener.
                Mumford also touches on the topic of broken love. With songs such as "Little Lion Man" and "Winter Winds" he describes scenes where love can in some cases be lost and that, believe it or not, the cause for the heartbreak can be our own fault. In "Little Lion Man" Mumford tells his listener that it was "your heart on the line and I messed it up this time." He does what many artists do not do, he blames himself.
              If for some reason you've yet to check out "Sigh No More" then you must head on over to your nearest bookstore and make sure you purchase a copy of this album. Its music is full of rich folk melodies that will make you want to scream along with it and also at the same time cause you to bow your head in reverence to the beauty of what is being said and how it is being portrayed through the music.
           Thanks for reading and stayed tuned for my next post which will be about The Fray's self-titled second album.                        
                                                                   

The Wood Between the Worlds

The Wood between the Worlds

It’s the wood between the worlds just you and me girl

I think we’re stuck, I think we’re out of time

The soft green grass, the stillness, the trees

Something is off here and maybe it’s me

What do you say and what will it be?

I have to know where the pool the leads

So why don’t you come along with me?

I can see from your eyes that you would rather live here then die

But my heart is being called to the light

Please come with me and I’ll keep you safe

And get you back in time to set the plates

What do you say and what will it be?

My heart is longing for something inside

A song I can hear that will always abide

The darkness, the stars, they all formed when the Lion roared

And he sang and he spoke it to life

It wasn’t a roar, but the sweetest melody you’ve ever heard

Aren’t you glad you came here with me?

Oh what a sight mine eyes had seen when lion sang and trees became green

The colors formed right in front me

The animals came out of the dirt and the sweetest voices of the birds

Had I really seen the foundations laid?

And He came to me and he healed all my wounds

The same Lion who gave light to the moon

Changed by Mercy

Changed by Mercy

There’s been a song that I’ve been listening to here in Americus a lot. It’s called “Forever Changed” by Eddie Kirkland. It’s been such a great reminder of God’s mercy for His people. Kirkland reminds the listener that, even in our darkest hour, Christ meets with us and supplies in us everything we need to praise, serve, and glorify His name. This has been so true in my life. I struggle with various things, but Christ is so loving and forgiving. He speaks to us in the thunder and in a whisper, too. He draws near to us when we draw near to Him. I’ve learned a lot of great lessons here in Americus, but one of the greatest is the constant reminder that no matter how I’m feeling or what I’ve done, everyday God’s mercy is brand new. This is something that we as Christians should cling to and constantly bring praise to our Savior for. I know that sometimes during the day I get caught up in my own life, and I forget that this life is not mine. However, while I’m living on earth I should be constantly remembering that God supplies my every need to do His work. This does not mean that we should go on sinning thinking that He will just give us His mercy. Rather, when we do struggle and fall we should realize that Christ is here to pick us up and forgive us when we sincerely come to Him. His mercy brings my heart to life and His love, justice, and forgiveness bring strength to my bones. What a mighty God we serve.

Psalm 119 reminds us that we should take delight in the law of the Lord and cling to it. My life has been radically changed by what my Savior did for me when He took the wrath of God on Himself for my own sin. He made a way for me to have mercy and, most importantly, an intimate relationship with Him, the Creator of all things. Let this blog find you where you are and let it remind you that wherever you are in a high in life or in a low that God’s mercy is brand new every single day. We have been made alive by it and we should be thanking Him for it all the time. Yes, all the time.  I hope that as you read this you understand that if you have never experienced this life-changing grace and mercy that you can today.  Christ gives to all that ask and genuinely seek after Him.  So brothers and sisters, let us run the race that Christ has set out for us. His mercy is new every day and He is in our midst when we have struggles and fall. What a loving Creator we serve. 

Reflections on Jeremiah 29:11

Reflections on Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

This verse from the Old Testament is one of the most well-known and profound verses in the Bible. And, while it is all these things, it is also, I believe, one of the most taken out of context verses. Most people take this verse and apply it to any bad situation in life. But if one was to consider the context of this verse, they would be able to see the true beauty of what God was saying to His people. The people of Israel had been given into the hands of the Babylonians in the late sixth century. The people of Israel were enslaved and were helpless as they had been taken from their Promised Land due to their disobedience. Then God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah these beautiful words from the twenty-ninth chapter of the book.  He reminds His people that, though they have been taken from the Promised Land, He still has plans for them, good plans for their future. The people of Israel were in the lowest state that they could be in, and in all of it, God, being the great Father He is, reminds His people that He is still in control and has great things in store for them. God is displayed in this book as a loving Father who is punishing His children because He loves them, and while they are in such a lowly state, He reminds them that He loves them and displays His unending love for His people.

                So what does this mean to us today? How could we possibly apply this to our lives? Have you ever been disobedient to God? I’m talking about a state so low that you were afraid you would never get out and that God couldn’t forgive you for what you did. Even in those times God is doing a work in our lives. He wants us to know that, while our disobedience led us to our lowly state, that His love will lift us up out of it.  I’ve been there. I have run from God even though I have a personal relationship with Him. It is in those times that God has to discipline me and then remind me that as His child there is a future for me. So if you have run from God or just ignored Him in disobedience, come to Him with a repentant heart, and He will be merciful to forgive you and remind you that He has an awesome future for you in spreading His gospel throughout all the nations. 

Americus Blog #2: Man vs. Americus

  Man vs. Americus

This past week in the heart of Americus I undertook a challenge of tasty proportions. Monroe’s Hotdogs has been a local staple of good American eats here in Americus for years. They have everything from hotdogs to hamburger steak to a chicken dog. Their main attraction, however, is a behemoth dish called the Scramble Dog. Weighing in around a pound to a pound and a half, the Scramble Dog is a massive dish filled with two red hot hotdogs smothered with chili, cheese, and a layer of cole slaw. At first glance it’s a lot to take in, but as soon as you start tearing into it you start to realize just how delicious it really is. I personally have never taken any kind of eating challenge. This wasn’t an official eating challenge, either, but the children’s minister here at Central Baptist, Kevin, told me and my friend David that if we ate the entire dish that, he would give us some free T-shirts from the church. Now, you know how college-aged students are. They will do just about anything for a free T-shirt. I wasn’t going to let this opportunity pass me by, either. So, I grabbed a fork and I got to it. The initial taste of the Scramble Dog was one of pure bliss. It was amazing. As time passed by, though, it got harder and harder. I’m not going to lie, there were moments when I didn’t think I was going to finish it.  With every bite it got harder and harder to go on and finish, but with endurance and stamina I finished the dish up and got my free T-shirts! It was worth it, but I don’t think I’ll be eating another Scramble Dog any time soon.

On a more serious note, this past week has been amazing. My fellow missionaries and I worked with some college students from Central and the children’s minister to put on a backyard Bible club at a local park. We played games with the five consistent kids that we had, and we just loved on them and told them about the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior. It was such a great experience. We were also able to minister to some adults who would just be passing by the park, too. It has been great here in Americus. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts, and please be in prayer for us as we gear up for our mission trip to Louisiana. God is great and greatly to be praised. All glory to His name.

                                                                                                                                                In Christ,

                                                                                                                                                                Derek Hale 

Americus Blog #1

Americus Blog #1

Hi everyone,

This is my blog for my summer missions experience in Americus, Georgia. For those of you who don’t know, I am working with Central Baptist Church in Americus for six weeks. This is my first week here, and I can tell you already that I love it. The staff at Central is great, and the man we are working for is the Minister of Music, Joe Horan. This first week we have been working at the church with their VBS. The theme is “SKY” and the motto for the week is “Everything is Possible with God.” It has been a great week so far.  My team and I are playing in the VBS worship band, and I am working with the Bible story time while my teammates are working in other areas. Getting to see these kids respond to the Bible time in a positive way has been so enriching to my life. The first day, the kids were asked to trust God with the things that they could not control. The teacher asked the kids if they would pray about some things they couldn’t control and then ask God to trust Him with these things. It warmed my heart in a big way to hear those elementary school kids pray with such innocence and sincerity of heart.

                My team and I have had the amazing opportunity to bond through worship. Today, when we were tired, we strapped on the guitars and grabbed the mics and just worshipped the God who had brought us together. It was AMAZING! God is so great and this is going to be an amazing summer. My team is great. They are all super talented musicians and so on fire for God and His will for their lives. I am learning so much from them and am blessed to get to share this experience with them. Please be in prayer for us as well as Central Baptist Church and our VBS this week. My team is David Houser, Maghen Malcolm, and Taylor Turner.  Thank you all for reading and thank you for your prayers.

                                                                                                                                               In Christ,

                                                                                                                                                                       Derek Hale

The Conversation Part 2

                                                        The Conversation part 2

                “Hi, is this all for you?” she asked as she looked down at the things that Daniel had put on the counter. 

                “Yeah, that will be all, thanks.” Daniel said this as he reached into his back pocket for his wallet. Just as he was about to get the cash out of his wallet, the cashier said something that Daniel had never heard in his life.

                “Hey, how’s your soul?”

Daniel froze with his hand in his wallet. He had never heard such an icebreaker in his life. What was he supposed to say to that? Was this woman crazy? “How’s your soul?” What kind of question was that? It was like a freight train had just hit him in the chest. He stood frozen and wrapped in the words that he had just heard. After a moment of silence, the clerk spoke again.

                “I’m sorry, I know that is a personal question. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

Daniel was still stiff, but he managed somehow to answer the store clerk. “Um, it’s okay. No, don’t feel intrusive; it’s just that I’ve never been asked that question before.”

“Yeah,” she replied. “I know it is, but I get tired of people just casually walking by each other mumbling a careless ‘Hey, how are you?’ without really caring how they are.”

“Wow,” Daniel said. “I’ve never thought about it like that before. I guess you’re right. People always walk by and say stuff like that without really caring about their fellow man.”

“Yeah, I never like to ask people who come in to the store that question,” she said. “I actually want to know how people are doing and what’s going on in their lives. I don’t know, maybe I’m weird, but I just like to be connected with people who come into my store.”

“Well, it makes sense to me,” Daniel said. At this point in the conversation, he had started to relax, and, for the first time since his wife’s and child’s death, he was smiling. No one ever stopped to ask him how he was doing. It was always a short “I’m sorry for your loss” and then a quick exit. And if people did ask how he was doing, he could always tell that they only asked because they felt they had to and that something else was on their mind. Daniel, for the first time, had found peace in this store clerk he had only met a few minutes ago. She was young, maybe in her late twenties, and she was pretty. She had dirty blond hair and green eyes that pierced Daniel all the way to his heart. He wasn’t attracted to her as much as he was just enthralled by her kind-heartedness.  He thought the days of people actually being kind to him were over. Daniel had since moved to England to get away from the pain that he had been through in the States. As he stood there looking into this woman’s eyes, he somehow knew that this wouldn’t be the last time he looked into those eyes. He wasn’t thinking that he was going to fall in love with her because it had only been two years since he had lost his family, but he just thought that somehow in a weird, unexplainable way that this woman would be able to help him get back on his feet. He knew this because of her one simple question about his soul. Daniel thought to himself that she didn’t want to know about his soul, but, because she was inclined to know about her customers, he thought he ought to spill the beans.

“So, if you want, you can come back here and sit behind the counter. Not to be insulting, it just looks like you have a lot on your mind,” she said in her soft, sweet voice.

Daniel knew those green eyes had seen right through him. “Yeah, okay, thanks. My name is Daniel Regan, by the way.”

“My name is Emma Raleigh,” she said. “So, Daniel. What’s your story?”

And as he heard those words reverberate through his ears he knew that they were both in for a long night. “Well, if you must know… Here is my story.”

To be continued…

The Conversation

                                                             

Hey everyone, this is a new four-part blog that I'm writing that is in short story from. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for reading!

                                                              The Conversation           

The small, dreary road was lit up by the effervescent glow of the street lamps that lined the path. The city of London was quiet and the fog was starting to rise, making the street cloudy. Daniel Regan was walking down the road as the stars just started to become clear in the sky above. Life had taken its turns in Daniel’s life, but still, somehow, he managed to remain calm, pensive, and even a little hopeful. Not many people understood why Daniel had quit his job and why he had moved to the London countryside. He didn’t really know the answer to that question, either. All he knew was that this was something that he always wanted to do and now that he had lost his wife, he knew that this was the next step in moving on with his life. His brown hair had started to show a little bit of gray and the bags under his eyes would be able to tell any stranger that his life had taken an unfortunate turn.  

                Daniel missed the time he had with his bride. All the nights they had spent walking around the small town where they had met in college, the night when he first told her that he loved her, and the day when they got married. He also missed his child. As he walked along the road, all these things kept washing over him like a wave hitting the shore.  He started to cry. He had finally been able to cry since he had lost his wife and, subsequently, his child. 

                He couldn’t help but think about what could have been. He couldn’t help but be a little scared of the impending future. With all these thoughts swirling through his head he did what any other man would’ve done in his predicament. He blamed himself. He decided to go into a little country shop and get some coffee for he thought that he might need some for the late night he had ahead. He walked into the cozy shop and immediately felt a warmth that he hadn’t felt in a long time. The whole store smelled of pumpkin and freshly baked bread. As he poured himself some coffee, he saw that the store keeper was fixing the radio and then smiling when she had found a familiar song. Daniel loved that song and it immediately reminding him of his wife. With the song getting to its catchy chorus, he knew that he had to get out of the store, even though it had been the first thing in a long time that had provided him with any kind of happiness. He walked up to the counter and paid for his coffee, and, as he did, the store owner began a conversation with him that he would never forget. 

O Santo de Polvora

“O Santo de Polvora”

“O Santo de Polvora” was originally composed by a Spanish- Celtic group, Milladoiro. The words “O Santo de Polvora” translate to “The Holy Powder” and when the “P” in “Polvora” is lower case instead of upper case, it translates to “The saint of gunpowder.” The translations, though different, are still both close enough to get a good, solid understanding of the text.  Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers released their cover of the song on their 2006 record, “How to Grow a Woman from the Ground.” The opening motif sets up the mood for the rest of the piece. “O Santo de Polvora” is a very playful piece that takes its listeners all the way to the Northern country side of Spain, or maybe even the Tuscan region of Italy. The piece sustains its playfulness throughout and, coupled with bluegrass instruments, it reminds the listener that just because you don’t possess traditional Spanish or Italian instruments doesn’t mean you can't imitate the style. From start to finish “O Santo de Polvora” is an excellent piece that is good for any relaxation playlist or even an after dinner playlist as well. The song has a timeless quality to it that will make the listener have to listen to it over and over again. Regardless of whether you are a fan of Bluegrass music or not, this piece will surely gain its fair share of respect with you.

                                                                                                                                                Signing off,

                                                                                                                                                                Derek Hale

Sherlock

Better Sherlock Holmes: Robert Downey, Jr. or Benedict Cumberbatch?

Sherlock Holmes is one of the most time-honored literary characters since his first appearance in “A Study in Scarlet” in Beeton’s Christmas Annual in 1887.  Sherlock has influenced many characters in today’s society. The characters Greg House from the TV series “House” and Shawn Spencer from the series “Psych” were both inspired by Sherlock Holmes.  Many actors have portrayed the character of Mr. Holmes, but there have been two great actors of our time who have done an especially great job at bringing Sherlock to life.  First, Robert Downey, Jr.’s interpretation of Holmes in the film series has really helped bring the character out to the mainstream audience. The second is Benedict Cumberbatch, who stars in the BBC television series “Sherlock.” He has reinvented Holmes in a refreshing way, as the series is set in modern day London.

            So, the question is, who is better at being the great Sherlock Holmes?

Both actors have done their research prior to portraying Holmes because they have both nailed the character perfectly. It’s their differences, though, that cause audiences to take sides on which Sherlock is their favorite.  Robert Downey, Jr. has a little more dry wit about him, whereas Cumberbatch’s humor comes from the angle of awkwardness that he takes. Also, another angle to consider is how the directors of each influence the character of Holmes. In the films, Guy Ritchie brings out Sherlock’s deductive skills by a slow motion inner monologue that Downey executes perfectly. In the television series, director Toby Haynes takes a completely different perspective where he shows Sherlock’s thoughts on screen instead of as inner monologue.

            In my opinion, both are great. Downey’s Holmes is more comical, whereas Cumberbatch’s portrayal is more awkward and intelligent. Both portrayals would make Conan Doyle very proud. I think the decision of this question is up to the reader. You decide which Holmes is better and comment on this blog and let me know what you think. The game is afoot!

                                                                                                Signing off,

                                                                                                            Derek Hale

Nothing Is Sound

In 2005, the band Switchfoot embarked on making an album that would change not only the musical direction of the band but also revitalize a group who had just come off making a double platinum record. “Nothing Is Sound” was released on September 13, 2005, to very eager fans. The album was soon certified Gold and quickly gained popularity. The album contains a wide variety of genres within it. From songs like “Stars” to “Golden” to “Daisy,” Switchfoot shows that they are not tethered down to one specific sound. The album’s wide variety of sound is what gives the listener that unique experience that Switchfoot offers day in and day out.

                This album struck me as a diamond in the rough. Out of all the albums the band has released, this is the one that gets the least amount of press. It should get the most, in my opinion. “Nothing Is Sound” is an album that only comes around once in a blue moon. The Beatles had “Abbey Road,” Pink Floyd had “Dark Side of the Moon,” and Switchfoot has “Nothing Is Sound.”

                The songs that I would recommend from this album are “Stars,” “Easier Than Love,” “The Shadow Proves the Sunshine,” and “Golden.” These songs display more than the mainstream “love song” topics. These songs are real and speak to a generation who desperately needs to hear them.

                Let me leave you with this: if you are at a point in life when you ask a lot of questions about yourself or why things are the way they are, I encourage you to listen to this album and take lead singer Jon Foreman for what he has to say about all the burning topics of today’s world. You will not regret it.

                                                                                                                                                Signing off,

                                                                                                                                                Derek Hale