DownshoreDrift

When I think about Texas, where I am going next week for the SBC, this song always comes to mind. Stevie Ray Vaughan was simply one of the greatest musicians of our time. I don't know if there will be a Texas Flood or not, but I wanted to join in with all the fun of posting YouTube clips on blogs and this one seemed to capture the mood the best. I know it's the blues and all, but I can't help but be a little happy when I hear SRV play the guitar. Can we at least agree that he knew what he was doing?

Apparently, American Idol contestant, Chris Sligh, is experiencing criticism for being a Christian who is trying to make it in the entertainment business - FROM CHRISTIANS!!! Read the article HERE.  This pretty well illustrates my last post. Maybe he is a really strong Christian who does not want to spend his life in a Christian bubble. Maybe he wants to affect the world around him and be "salt and light."  Anyway, read the article and tell me what you think. I think that the guy is pretty cool and he is my favorite contestant (I seriously don't watch the show or know any of the other contestants, but I happened to watch it the night that he interviewed in Birmingham - he was really funny).

"We've found different ways of expressing it, and recognized the power of the media to manipulate such signs. Maybe we just have to sort of draw our fish in the sand. It's there for people who are interested. It shouldn't be there for people who aren't." -- Bono on faith, quoted in "U2 at the End of the World"

I thought this article from Kim Lawton for PBS was interesting about Bono from U2.  Andrew Jones turned me on to it. While I do not believe that his theology or his lifestyle is completely consistent with God's Word, and I would not tell other believers to emulate his lifestyle, he is having a huge impact on the world today with his focus on the AIDS epidemic and global poverty. It is heartening to me that he is doing this from a Biblical perspective and is motivated by Jesus' example. While we might not say, "Follow Bono as he follows Christ" in everything, we might have a lot to learn from an imperfect man who is being faithful in many ways.  He'll also be speaking at Willow Creek's Leadership Summit in 2006. Bono was also Time Magazine's Man of the Year in 2005 and their song, "Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own" won Song of the Year for the Grammy's the other night. 

If you listen to U2's music and hear their story, it could just be that the biggest band on the planet is trying to draw people to the Lord in their own way.  Maybe Bono is someone that we should really all be praying for, that more and more each day he would know the Lord and learn to walk with Him.  Here is another of their early songs that comes from Psalm 40 as performed in a concert in Germany:

"40" (live from Germany)

Sing this with me, this is "40"

I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He lift me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay

I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song

How long to sing this song
How long to sing this song
How long, how long, how long
How long to sing this song

He set my feet upon a rock
And made my footsteps firm
Many will see, many will see and hear

I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song

Sing it
How long to sing this song
How long to sing this song
How long, how long, how long
How long to sing this song

Thank you, goodnight

This is just one of many U2 songs that have Biblical references.  For others, take a look here.