in the open space: God & culture

Music is a mystery to me. Why some music moves me and other doesn’t is an enigma. Why does Celtic music, when full of replete longing or instant and present joy move my soul? Why do songs with a gentle Caribbean drum make me want to dance? Why does Mozart rest my mind? Or a Native American flute rest my will? Or some jazz (like Billie Holiday ) make me pensive? Or the arrangement of some lyrics and chords (like those of Jennifer Knapp , Emmylou Harris , or Andrew Peterson ) express my soul? I can explain most literature, and why even many films move me. But music? It is one of those ethereal things. A note of eternity. A taste of time without end. But I’m glad it is. I’m glad it be. It reminds of him, of the One who calls me always home. (Image: by Roskylde - Rob Alder at flickr ; some rights reserved )

Music— that ethereal cry —is a mystery to me. How does it move the soul so? Sometimes it moves my feet, sometimes my heart, and sometimes my muscles or will to rest. Then there are times, like today, when the mixture of words of adoration and praise with music is like Jeremiah’s new mercies. When, unbidden, the composition quickens and stirs. When the Spirit wells within, bursting like a geyser into the soul and I can’t help but raise hands in joyful adoration. And that breaking out drenches me with Life, with the Father. Even in the praising of God I find Life. And that is a sweet mercy flowing from heaven. (Image: by chrismoncus at flickr ; some rights reserved )

It all comes down to fair play. I tagged Jeremy of Free Old Testament Audio on the Bible Movies Meme , so he tagged me on the Random Beliefs Meme, which was started by Doug Chaplin . According to Chaplin, “Here’s the idea. Post a collection of 10 things you believe, ethical, philosophical or theological. You choose how much to connect them or make them coherent: do you want people to know where you belong, or do you want to mix and match to keep them guessing? I encourage you not to aim for a totally coherent credal statement of faith, and I also encourage you to put one or two in about controversial topics.” So, here you go: 1. I believe it all comes down to love—real Love. 2. I believe salvation and redemption are not doctrines but a radical, challenging, humbling, frustrating, freeing, breathtaking, amazing-love-beyond-imagination relationship. 3. I believe Jesus is who he says he is and can do what he says—and I believe when we trust God is who he says and can do what he says tha...

Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity. ~Voltaire I love living in the Deep South, but one of the things I miss out on by living in one of the smaller cities is the variety of ethnic foods available in the larger. Heh, I’ve always been somewhat jealous of Mir who lives in a metropolis that is a veritable nirvana when it comes to food. Well, this week, my friend Lenore invited me out to a Vietnamese restaurant for lunch. It’s not much to look at—Asian paintings and art scatter over the walls which still bear the wallpaper from the former establishment (a Honey-Baked Ham store), a big-screen television sits in the corner with a low-volumed cable news channel and the windows hide behind beige blinds—but, oh my, the food . First, I had a shrimp sour soup. The combination of flavors (tomatoes, bean sprouts, pineapples, shrimp, mushrooms, basil, lemon, onion, chilies, etc.) was like actually tasting one of Mozart’...