Themed Playlists

I've not put anything up here recently. It's mainly because I'm trying to finish a degree. Plus I've lost the habit of writing my musings on a website - which I'm not altogether unhappy about.

I've been making playlists with themes recently. Inspired by a friend, themes currently include 'Breath' and 'Tonight'. The one I'm currently enjoying has the theme 'Sleep' and goes thus:

1. Asleep in the Back - Elbow
2. In the Arms of Sleep - Smashing Pumpkins
3. You on my Mind when I Sleep - Richard Ashcroft
4. Let me Sleep (Next to the Mirror) - Idlewild
5. Sleeping Lessons - Shins
6. Sleep Better - Pete Yorn
7. Haunt while I Sleep - Right Away, Great Captain
8. I'm Not Sleeping - Counting Crows
9. Sleep to Dream Her - Dave Matthews Band
10. The Devil Never Sleeps - Iron & Wine
11. Daysleeper - REM
12. Singing in my Sleep - Semisonic
13. Sleep Don't Weep - Damien Rice
14. Go to Sleep - Radiohead
15. Sleep - Stephen Fretwell
16. Even While You're Sleeping - The Acorn
17. Sleeping Torpor - Anathallo
18. Sleeping Bear, Sault Saint Marie - Sufjan Stevens
19. When You Sleep - Longview

So, in a bid to increase by 100% my blog posting for the year 2011 - herewith a post. Based on current frequency, see you in August!

'You could return the earth all to her'

Kilmory Day Trip

I've blogged about these guys before, here.

They are a Scottish band. A 'friend of a friend's' band. Lyrically exquisite, musically beautiful.

You can go here, listen to their e.p. and buy their record.

Free Album

It's also very good... click... click....

Red Letter

Eleven for '09

The amount of albums released in 2009 that I bought was, at last count, 2. Thus I cannot give you my top songs of '09, but I can do this. Thus herewith are my top eleven songs that were added to my iTunes library during the year 2009. Hope you enjoy.

Ryan Adams & the Cardinals - Fix It



Elbow - Switching Off



Coldplay - Strawberry Swing



Idlewild - City Hall



Pete Yorn - On Your Side



Paper Rival - You're Right



Rosi Golan - Hazy



The Acorn - Crooked Legs



Beirut - Nantes



Jon Foreman - Your Love Is Strong



Joni Mitchell - California

The Wooden Sky - The Wooden Sky

I went to the cinema...

I went to the cinema for the first time since... since.... since, well... I don't actually remember. I saw Pursuit of Happyness in January 2007 (I think), and then I Am Legend in early 2008, and I'm pretty sure I saw the latest Bond film at the cinema, but I don't remember when that was. Incidentally, I wouldn't want to see any of those films again.

But this Saturday past I went again, and I saw 2012. It was a pretty mixed film. I fell asleep at one point, a combination of my own tiredness and the film. But it was interesting to think about who we (i.e. the collective 'democratic' governments of the world) would save if the world was going to be hit by a mega-disaster, and the LORD would actually allow us to survive.

I thought it was pretty accurate that tickets to salvation would be sold. Our democratic world is only really democracy to the highest bidder... it then ceases to be democracy, by definition. I have two comments on this: firstly, thank God (quite literally and sincerely) that he does not work like this. Secondly, what an awful human race you would have if only those rich enough to pay for their salvation were there to repopulate... I mean, there would be no diversity, a lack of creativity and joy.

I've also seen Garden State recently, which I enjoyed a whole lot more. I thought it tackled the reality of broken human relationships with a stark honesty that isn't found in 99% of films. Well done, Mr. Braff. The conversation of home was particularly pertinent in our society that lacks belonging - and constantly strives for it.

In other news, I've been listening to The Acorn (a Tom Green recommendation), and I've also been listening to Forest City Lovers. Go, check 'em out.

It snowed for a bit today.

I was cold for about 3 hours, then I had a hot shower, and now I'm fine. Praise the Lord for heat and for showers. And for houses. May the Lord look after those who have none of the above tonight.

"I wrote this next song in 1857 when I was a pirate."

All change in life; all change on blog.

I sit at my dining table, in the flat I have occupied for the past 29 days. The small balcony has one of it's doors open, and the David Crowder Band bounce out of the stereo. I have just eaten dinner... a moderately successful omelette (the first attempt, about a week ago, ended up as scrambled egg with onions. Hmmm.....), and some Bramble Jelly on toast, homemade by the lovely lady living below us. Today I have been in to the office to sort out some internet / email logistics for my account with the church, and in to the LST library to start some preliminary reading for the M.A. course which starts in about four weeks.

I tell you all this by way of introducing you to the fact the my life has changed, and I have moved on from being a student, living in halls, and am now a part time Pastoral Assistant and a part time post-grad student. One week in to starting work, and I am thoroughly enjoying it. Pray for me, that I may remember that godliness is good in every way, because it holds promises for this life and the next.

And, of course, the blog has changed.

Living the Tension has two meanings, though they overlap. The first tension is between this life and the next. Living as heirs with Christ, living with a message, living in the world, but citizens of the next life, of a new world, we are not of this world. The second tension is between study and ministry, between theory and practice, between orthodoxy and orthopraxy, between studentdom and adulthood.

My aim will be to blog about these tensions and how God's grace is more than enough for any person to cope - more than cope: to thrive - and stay focussed on the goal, by His unending love and mercy.

"My Song Is Love"

New Look, Books, and Sounding Like Other People

I decided to update the image of the blog.  I quite like the new look, especially the continuous nature of the lists down the right hand side... subtle but nice.

Listening to snippets from Jon Foreman's E.P.'s - he is the Switchfoot front man, and has released four E.P.'s over the last year.  They are good, chilled out, stripped down tunes.  Check him out here.

I have been attempting to write a number of book reviews, reviewing the numerous books I have recently read.  It has only happened in skeleton form, and already I don't really like what I've written.  I seem to end up sounding like the many, many book reviews I've read - and not sounding like myself.  Which I suppose is bound to happen to some extent, but I'm not a big fan of it.  So for now my reviews will continue to be skeletons - one day I may post them up here.

The books I have read have brought up numerous things to talk and think about.  The most prominent are epistemology and postmodernism.  But those two subjects will take up another post (or indeed posts), once I've come to a decision about them or build up enough courage to air my questions and limited understanding.

Don't Steal Music.

Check this article out...

The Pirate

Has piracy become an acceptable sin among Christians?  Poignant question from Justin Taylor.

Ten

I like lists...

I attempted to make a list of my favourite albums from this year. But I don't like most modern music, so I didn't actually have ten albums that were released this year. Instead, here is a list of my favouite ten albums that I have bought this year. They are in no order.

Tom McRae - Tom McRae
Mutemath - Mutemath
Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
Mae - The Everglow
Hot Chip - The Warning
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Ryan Adams - Love Is Hell
The Reindeer Section - Son Of Evil Reindeer
Editors - An End Has A Start