Dave Matthews did opening/closing songs for church today

Even before Jason, our genius worship leader, asked for my blessing to do it (it=something as 'radical' and 'unorthodox' as a Dave Matthews song for the "call to worship"/opening song of the worship service) one Sunday circa 1999,
I  had always  felt that the first section of Matthews'  "Pantala Naga Pampa"  (regardless of what the title is said to mean!!)was made for such a place and time as that:

Come and relax now

 Put your troubles down 

No need to bear the weight of your worries

 Just let them all fall away.

We did it again today. many moons later,  at third day fresno (only this time Pastor Dave M....another genius worship leader....himself played and sang it...on the big screen).

We started with this instrumental intro (which at one point was a nameless spontaneous song (called "Intro" here on the Listener Supported DVD, and now has come to called "Heartbeat"):

On  the DVD, that immediately segues into the call to worship I mentioned; the first 43 seconds of "Pantala Naga Pampa" here:

  

The flock of course "got it," including the Matthew 11:28 connection that @Keltic Ken prayed for us.

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Oh, today's closing song?

Of course... an inclusio...the closer from the same concert; a prophetic little Dylan number (that many only know by way of Jimi Hendrix's version, ore even U2's  quickly-rehearsed cover:




Related:

• Godhaunted Dave Matthews: Bartender and The Maker
• The Last Stop is Violently Blue
• Off course God's in the supermarket...and Barnesand Noble

phoning it in from Peru

Here's audio of Keltic Ken interviewing Ken Metz and I in Peru, right before our historic wild and crazy trip up to the top of the Andes (story and video here).

Click here

St. Francis: ‘Open your mouth and I will shit in it’"

St. Francis' advice to Brother Rufino:

But when the devil says to you again: ‘You are damned’,  you answer him confidently: ‘Open your mouth and I will shit in it’, and let it be a sign to you that he is the devil that when you say those words, he will immediately go away…

            -St Francis, Little Flowers, Part 1, Section 1. chapter 29 

¿¿Por qué no??

From Joan Chittister’s " Fire in the Ashes":

Once upon a time, the story goes, Abba Lot went to see Abba Joseph. 

He said, “Abba, as much as I am able, I practice a small rule, all the little fasts, some prayer and meditation, and remain quiet. What else should I do? "

To which the old monastic stood up and
stretched his hands toward heaven, and his fingers became like ten torches of flame. And
he said,

 “Why not be completely turned into fire?” 
link

Amazing book by our own Happy Lee Del Canto

Amazing book by our own Happy Lee Del Canto
(she posts as Margo Romero on this blog...see this post, for example) now on Amazon Kindle (or free readers) here.

 Sorry, only in Spanish..so it's a great excuse to learn that heavenly tongue if you don't know it.

Happy comments:

The novel I wrote with my friend, based on the experience he lived and suffered inside a Chilean seminary (abuse, love, betrayal) is now available for purchase on Amazon... Spanish only. The protagonists of the most sordid events still hold positions of power inside the Catholic Church. My friend, Víctor, has been interviewed on TV for a major show, denouncing these very events .

You May Be From Fresno IF...

You May Be From Fresno IF:

• You have to explain to friends from out of town what animal a “Tri-tip” comes from.
• You think salsa goes on everything
• Drivers think a red light is just a suggestion.
• Your out-of-town friends start to visit after October, but clear out before the end of April.
• The best restaurants in town start with “El” or “Los.”
• You think $400 a month rent is way too high.
• You know a swamp cooler is not a happy hour drink.
• People break out coats when the temperature drops below 70.
• The pool can be warmer than you are.
• You realize that Valley Fever isn’t a disco dance.
• You still don’t know your way around downtown.
• Anywhere “and 99″ is too far away.
• You think you’re better than people from Clovis.
• Someone mentions the fair and your thoughts immediately turn to cinnamon rolls...or being stabbed.
• You drive just as fast on a sunny day in June as a foggy day in December.
• You have to explain to someone about “G Street.”
• The whole town shuts down at 11:00.
• You complain about how boring Fresno is, but still make fun of people from Sanger, Selma, Reedley, etc.
• You hadn’t been to Manchester Center in 10 years until the movie theater opened.
• You never knew how you managed before River Park.
• Someone from out-of-town talks about how foggy it is and tell them, “Just wait.”
• You know not to take Shaw at 8, 12, or 5.
• You can open and drive your car without touching the car door or the steering wheel.
• You no longer associate bridges and rivers with water.
•  You can say "It's 110 degrees outside" without fainting.
•  You can attend any function wearing shorts and a tank top.
•  You can make sun tea instantly.
•  You know a seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron.
•  You pick parking places by shade instead of distance.
•  You can drive your car with only 2 fingers.
•  
• You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Fresno.

camp this summer!

Register now for Sierra Christian Ashram:

pastor admits he is God's asshole, and Christian publisher doesn't censor it

Definitely read pages 84-88 right now in the sample below; and  give kudos to Zondervan for publishing  this amazing book...uncensored..

But just asking:  Why is it in the cut-out rack at the local Christian store, and also at Dollar Tree for...well, you know the price.   (:

Buy a few copies, full price.  Support Cathleen Falsani!







"Sin Boldly, A Field Guide for Grace"  by Cathleen Falsani:

"a cross between Jesse Duplantis and Larry the Cable Guy."

Dallas Elder called this message awesome, and the messenger's style "a cross between Jess Duplantis and Larry the Cable Guy."

Her is Billy Gazaway (pastor, Resurrection Life Church, St. Joseph, MO) 's rockin' Thursday morning devotional message at the  recent Grace Covenant conference in Kansas City..pick it up about the 36 minute mark:

Watch live streaming video from gracecovenant at livestream.com

Break Dividing Walls./Overcome Limitations

If you pick up this video at about the 30 minute mark (and you may have to click  "expand" or "full screen" to make the video work). you can join our prayer time in Kansas City, where I shared a  devotion  on "Break Dividing Walls," telling the story behind the song of that name, and the story of the dividing wall in the temple.  Then around the 1 hour 15 minute mark, catch Dallas Elder's "Positioned for Increase" message about overcoming limitations from L the Feeding of the 5000  from Luke 9 (Feeding of the 5000)..

gracecovenant on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

great , catchy praise song...sing along

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"Why I hate religion but love Jesus": five responses

Since everyone on the planet has
seen the"Why I hate religion but love Jesus" by  Jefferson Bethke, video already (It went more viral than "The Heat is On"),,,

..and since this is pretty obviously a video our churchfolk would appreciate  


here are five thoughtful responses by folks our churchfolk also like:

Tim Neufeld:

Why I think "Why I hate religion but love Jesus" is dangerous

Tall Skinny:

Religion: Love it and Hate it

Sarcastic Lutheran:

Why I hate Religion, But Love Jesus ]

Brambonius Cools:

part 1
(pt II)

Dave Schmelzer:

Your Thoughts on "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus"?