God in her arms

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
will one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy
is Heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping child you're holding
is the great I Am!

From the song 'Mary, Did You Know?', by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene.

I came across this song today on an old CD, remembering how much I like it, despite the cheesiness. For me, it captures perfectly some of the thrilling impossibilities of the Incarnation. Reminds me of a joking comment made half-seriously by a (believing) friend earlier in the week: "How can an infinite God be contained in a finite body? It doesn't make sense!"

The question is brought into even starker relief in this song. In the Gospels our account of Jesus is of an adult, mature and in control, but here we're reminded that Mary held the Creator of the universe asleep in her arms. As an earlier line in the song puts it: "When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God!"

Wow! What an incredible mystery, a miracle beyond miracles. The Lord of creation, "through whom all things were created" (1 John 3) was himself created as a little baby, who fed and cried like any other. As Philippians 2:7 states, this is a God who "emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness."

And I thought quantum physics was crazy!

Sticky Lyrics

"And I see losing love
Is like a window in your heart;
Everybody sees you're blown apart
Everybody feels the wind blow."

I've always liked these lyrics.. not sure exactly why. I think perhaps they've made a lot of sense at one or two significant points in my life - and song-memories are particularly sticky.

Anyone recognise the song?

From the same album, (in)famous in my family was this genius chat-up line:
"Say, ain’t we walking down the same street together on the very same day?"

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

I was reminded recently how much I enjoyed the music video for Sitting, Waiting, Wishing - you can view it on the In Between Dreams page on the official site.

I love the creativeness of it, and trying to figure out what comes next from the clues.. It's a simple idea, but cleverly executed (look out for when the piano comes in), and he does a good job dubbing the lyrics as well - I wonder how many tries that took?!

Just a glimpse

My mp3 playlists are constantly changing, but my current collection is about as strange as they get! Here's a sample of what I've been listening to recently:

Landslide - Fleetwood Mac (live)
Crosses - Jose Gonzales
Broken - Jack Johnson
Second Hand News - Fleetwood Mac
Hoppipolla - Sigur Ros
Answer in the Sky - Elton John
Reign - UNKLE
Les nuits - Nightmares on Wax
Protection - Massive Attack
Saltwater - Chicane
Hope - Faith Evans (feat Twista)
Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead
The letter that never came - Thomas Newman
Goodbye my lover - James Blunt
I will always love you - Whitney Houston
Send someone away - Embee
Dead in the water - David Gray
Lose yourself - Eminem
8 Mile rap battles!

"Do you love your wife?"

Yesterday evening Chris Juby played a song by 'Brother Don' (otherwise known as Don Francisco) which surprised me in its spot-on-ness. I found this website, where you can download an MP3 of 'The Steeple Song' - recommended!

"..the thing I need I need to ask you is have done the things I said..
Do you love your wife? "

Jumbled joy

Here's a little something I put together today while work-avoiding.

It's made up of lines from the songs on my current worship cd-mix. I'll be impressed if anyone guesses all 14...

Lift up your eyes,
Early in the morning.
The harvest is here,
The kingdom is near!
Though there’s pain in the offering,
I will celebrate the light.

I’ve tasted and I’ve seen,
I know with all my heart.
No one else will do:
Heaven’s perfect Lamb,
I’ll lay it all down again,
It’s You I live for, everyday!

Bigger than the heavens and the highest of heights,
The universe declares your majesty.
You are far above,
Strong to deliver, mighty to save.
I’ll learn to stand upon Your word.

My heart will choose to say:
I’m gonna stand,
I’m gonna run,
I’ll follow after You.
To find You in the place Your glory dwells,
That’s the cry of my heart.

When I’m found in the desert place,
Help me know You are near.
I’m lost without you!
I’ll fear no evil for You are with me,
With wisdom, power and love.
Who’s your equal?

Your Spirit’s water to my soul,
Healing comes from your hands,
The fire of God,
Stirring up my passion.
My heart is satisfied within your presence,
the warmth of Your embrace.

Your glory will fill the earth,
Like water the sea.
Peeling back the darkness,
Rising up in me.
You’re all I ever needed,
My daily bread, the air I breathe.

It’s true and I believe it!
Our God turns the bitter into sweet,
Mercy and grace he gave us at the cross.
He will watch over your coming and your going
And calm the storm with His hand.

Return to trance?

I've been listening to a track called 'Flaming June' by Paul Van Dyke.
It's reminding me how much I enjoy trance. Despite trying to 'mature' in musical taste over the last few years, some things stay constant. Even as I listen, I wonder at it - such a strange thing to enjoy, and part of me doesn't. But then the melody kicks in and I'm suddenly feeling higher, lighter. Part of it is a nostalgic effect I think..brings back memories of losing myself in dancing in Planet of Sound. But it still makes my heart beat, uplifts my mood.

I have odd musical taste. Vic was listening to someone in the kitchen earlier and suddenly I was reminded of John Denver and had a wave of nostalgia. There's little music that I don't like actually. Mostly the stuff I dislike falls into the category of 'can't dance to it, can't sing to it' - not sure what this means! I guess both dancing and singing are uplifting, emotional in some way.