Fantastic Friday

Good Friday is good, but a great clip can make it fantastic. Have a fantastic Friday!!

Jason Gray - "Nothing is Wasted"

I like this song.  I'm surprised it's getting the full treatment of having a radio mix, official video and I have actually heard it on the radio.  That says much for Centricity as a recording label and more for Jason as a crafter of songs.

I'm surprised since he has a ton of songs that are catchy and may play better.  I'm also surprised because the song drips with the gospel.  Life being painful and it is picked up by loving hands and used for glory.  It also touches on a deep subtle truth I'm starting to learn; leaning on the faith of Jesus. 

It goes back to a sermon I heard and the pastor point out that it is the "faith OF Christ" not "faith IN Christ".  He got into the Greek grammar:
Galatians 2:
NIV is poor in its translation:
¹⁶ know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in^[d] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

KJV treats it better:
¹⁶ Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Anyway, enjoy the song and video. I will.

Jason Gray- Nothing Is Wasted (Official Music Video) from jason-gray on GodTube.

What a country....

I listen to country music in fits.  Generally I can listen for 2 mornings once a month and catch any of the "newest" on the radio.

Overall I like country for a few reasons.  They are allowed to be funny (Blake Shelton), they're allowed to be sappy - often too formulaic in their being sappy




And they can shoot for the heart by telling a story.  These tend to get played less, but it happens. 

This morning I caught a song that doesn't usually get on the radio:


I don't know if it sticks around, but I'm enjoying it today.

Review: "Peace Like a River" by Leif Enger

I finished reading "Peace Like a River" by Leif Enger, so it's time to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard nowadays) and offer my $0.02.

The story is a narrative from an 11 y/o (Reuben Land) and his family adventure.  I'm going to try very hard to not have spoilers in this.

The story reads quickly and the characters are well developed.  The dad struggles with a son on the run from the law, the remnant siblings struggle with a brother they may admire too much, and their own pride and forgiveness.

The book is blatantly Christian.  It is part of the characters so it is part of the story.  The same plot could basically have been told without the father's faith, and it would be as boring as my senior year class on "Fluid Power and Systems" and have had just as much of an audience.

What jumped out to me the most was the descriptions of Rueben's asthma.  It is drawn out so well as a reader I started to wonder for my own breath.  It is a constant concern for him and he is offered fixes that don't fix and advice like he could give it up like a vice.  It's a strong parallel to our walk in this world.  Life can be a struggle to just get along - but at most we limp or are betrayed by raspy lungs that won't let us run like we could be able to.  There is a remedy but it isn't advise or breathing salts.

I was blindsided by the last 2 chapters.  I didn't know how all the wild threads that were woven into the tale would tie together.  It isn't exactly a happy ending, but it does end. 

I didn't find anything life changing or faith changing or thought changing in the book.  As compared to "Silence" (my thoughts here).  I did greatly enjoy it and would recommend it to anyone who wants a good read.  I think I gave it 5/5 on Goodreads.