Chase The Kangaroo

" There are only two kinds of people in the end; those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done. '" ~C.S. Lewis

" Dearest Lord, may I see you today and ever day in the person of your sick, and whilst nursing them minister to you. " ~Mother Teresa of Calcutta

" We must get to the end of ourselves before He can begin in us. " ~F. B. Meyer

Ping Pong Over the Abyss  ~The 77's | Then and Now Ping Pong  is The 77's debut effort, released in 1982.  The title is said to have come from  Allen Ginsberg 's poem " Howl ," section 3: " I'm with you in Rockland / where you scream in a straight jacket that you're losing the game of the actual ping pong of the abyss. " When this album was released in '82, The 77's were the new kids on the block to this thing that was being called, "Christian rock".  Not only were they new, they brought with them a new style and sound.  It wasn't a new to the kids they were writing and playing for, but it was very new to a very new "industry".  Because of that, I can't remember if it was greeted with a ton of acceptance. In fact, I'll go on a limb and say that it probably wasn't.  However, it was greeted with just enough optimism. Even if it was my own personal optimism, it was enough to keep me and others listeni...

D.M.Z.  ~Resurrection Band | Then and Now I have fond memories of listening to  D.M.Z.   In my opinion, this was Resurrection Band's best.   Colours  and  Mommy Doesn't Love Daddy Anymore  easily stand on their own, but both efforts led up the musical moment of  D.M.Z. The album opens with the blistering, "Military Man", one of the band's most popular songs, even to this day.  If you were a fan of Van Halen, then you will love this record. Though they experimented with a little more keyboard and synthesizers on D.M.Z., it in no way takes away from how much this album rocks.  At the time, it fit right in. Lyrically, Resurrection Band stay true to bringing the Gospel down to the individual level, as they have always done.  The obvious theme to D.M.Z. was war and the threat of war, with "Military Man, "White Noise", "The Prisoner" and "Babylon". Take a listen and step back into 1982 and hear some of the best rock n' ...

"One man with God is always in the majority." ~Inscription on the Reformation Monument in Geneva

Seventy Sevens  ~The 77's | Then and Now "The 77's will take you on a journey through the past, present, and future of rock & roll" ~ Island Records radio advertisement, 1987 Unfortunately for the 77's, this album was released the same year and on the same label as  U2's,  The Joshua Tree .  This is unfortunate because Island Records had become completely absorbed with the release of  The Joshua Tree  and had little resources for anything else. Another harsh reality was that, as Larry Norman put it, the Christian music industry had no idea how to deal with the 77's. "The 77's - Too Christian for the radio and too radio for Christian music. " ~Larry Norman Though the album received favorable reviews from Rolling Stone and their single, "The Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes and The Pride of Life" became a commercial success, radio stations didn't know what to do with these "Christians".  And in the days where y...

" We should be careful to get out of an experience all the wisdom that is in it. " ~Mark Twain

Editor's Note: I fell in love with this song the first time I heard it.  The lyrics are unmistakably Mark Heard.  The catch is I heard the song for the first time, on a Mark Heard tribute album.  The album was primarily put together by the founding members of the band, The Choir.  Below the lyrics you'll their version of the song on Spotify. "Tip of My Tongue" |   Satellite Sky  ~Mark Heard There's an oasis in the heat of the day  There's a fire in the chill of night  A turnabout in circumstance makes each a hell in its own right I've been boxed-in in the lowlands, in the canyons that think  I've been pushed to the brink of the precipice and dared not to blink  I've been confounded in the whirlwind of what-ifs and dreams  I've been burned by the turning of the wind back upon my own flames Knock the scales from my eyes  Knock the words from my lungs  I want to cry out  It's on the tip of my tongue I've see...

MUSIC REVIEW SERIES:   LOOKING BACK ON THE 80’S MUSIC  | 1981 THEN AND NOW Mommy Doesn't Love Daddy Anymore ~Resurrection Band | Then and Now Sometime in '81, Resurrection Band released their sixth album,  Mommy Doesn't Love Daddy Anymore .  The title alone showed that the Chicago-based rockers weren't afraid to address the realities of a painful world (which is something most Christian musicians are still afraid of doing).  As the title suggests, they tackled the topic of divorce, as well as, materialism, society and the disabled, and spiritual struggles.  One of the great things about this band was that they truly believed that, " Jesus brings the light into every situation " (from, "Elevator Muzik").  Regardless of how ugly or painful the topic, these guys knew Jesus was at the heart of the answer to any problem and there wasn't any issue His healing power couldn't redeem.  They thrived on meeting people where they were The album...

As A Man Thinketh , by James Allen Originally published:   1902 Description:  "As a Man Thinketh" is a literary essay by James Allen, first published in 1902. In more than a century it has become an inspirational classic, selling millions of copies worldwide and bringing faith, inspiration, and self healing to all who have encountered it. The title comes from the Bible: "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." -- Proverbs, chapter 23, verse 7 Purchase:   Amazon Books At first glace, Proverbs 23:7 seems obvious enough and can be easily glossed over.  However, James Allen takes a closer look and studies the power our thoughts have over our lives.  Our thoughts, even have profound power over the situations we end up in.  Our thoughts can inspire to greatest or they can weigh down with the gravity of mediocrity. Mind is the Master power that moulds and makes, And Man is Mind, and evermore he takes The tool of Thought, and, shaping what he wil...

" Never doubt in the dark, what God told you in the light. " ~V. Raymond Edman

Happy Presidents Day! " I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go. " ~Abraham Lincoln

The Turning  ~Leslie (Sam) Phillips | Then and Now This year marks the 30th anniversary of,  The Turning .  The Turning , is perfectly titled for Phillip's career in 1987.  Up to this point, Phillip's was in the throes of Contemporary Christian Music-dom. She had busted on the scene with true rock and pop-rock tunes that reflected the sound of the day, but still fit perfectly into CCM's radio format. With the release of,  The Turning , everything changed.  As Wikipedia puts it, " The Turning  stands out as a turning point in Phillips' career as a singer and songwriter; on one side, the cheerful, upbeat pop-rock albums that she recorded in the early 1980s, and, on the other, the quirky 60's music influenced rock and folk albums, with a much darker and more poetic tone lyrically."  A lot of that came with producer, T Bone Burnett, who she would marry shortly after the release.  You can clearly hear Burnett's musical influence all...

Music Review Series:  Looking Back On The 80's Music  | 1981 Then and Now October  ~U2 | Now and Then "Gloria In te domine Gloria Exultate Gloria Gloria Oh, Lord, loosen my lips." "Gloria" is hands down the reason I bought this album.  Early on, U2 recognized the value of  grabbing the listener's attention out of the gate with each album. Like "I Will Follow" on  Boy , "Gloria" doesn't disappoint.  "Gloria" also sets the tone for  October , not only musically, but lyrically. "Gloria In te domine Gloria Exultate Oh, Lord, if I had anything, anything at all I'd give it to you." U2's faith arises time and time again throughout the years, but on  October , it takes center stage. This is a bold move considering both the success of  Boy  and this being their second studio album. Just look to songs like, "Rejoice", "Tomorrow", "With A Shout (Jerusalem)", "...

Saint Thomas Aquinas, by G.K. Chesterton Originally published:  1933 Description:  Chesterton's customary wit and engaging storytelling provide a brief but vivid profile. He focuses on the saint's life, rather than on theology, to illustrate Thomas's relevance to modern readers. Purchase:   Amazon Books Popular quotes from Saint Thomas Aquinas: " To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible." " Better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate." " Love takes up where knowledge leaves off." “St Thomas (Aqinas) loved books and lived on books... When asked for what he thanked God most, he answered simply, ‘I have understood every page I ever read’.” ~G.K. Chesterton, Saint Thomas Aquinas I would be lying if I told you this wasn't a heady book.  Luckily for me, it wasn't a long read.  I didn'...